Communication control device, method of controlling communication, and communication system

ABSTRACT

A communication control device (40) includes: an acquisition unit (441) that acquires a spectrum grant request following a certain scheme from a plurality of second radio systems that perform a wireless communication using a radio wave of a frequency band used by a first radio system; a classification unit (442) that groups the second radio systems into a plurality of groups according to a scheme of the spectrum grant request; and a calculation unit (443) that calculates a communication parameter of the second radio system for each of the groups.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a communication control device, amethod of controlling communication, and a communication system.

BACKGROUND

There has been a problem in that radio wave resources (radio resources)to be allocated to radio systems (radio devices) are becoming scarce.Because all radio wave bands are already used by existing radio systems(radio devices), it is difficult to allocate radio wave resources to anew radio system. Thus, in recent years, more effective utilization ofradio wave resources using a cognitive radio technology is attractingattention. In the cognitive radio technology, radio wave resources areobtained using temporal and spatial white space of the existing radiosystems.

CITATION LIST Non Patent Literature

-   Non Patent Literature 1: WINNF-TS-0247-V1.0.0 CBRS Certified    Professional Installer Accreditation Technical Specification.-   Non Patent Literature 2: WINNF-TS-0016-V1.2.1 Signaling Protocols    and Procedures for Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS): Spectrum    Access System (SAS)—Citizens Broadband Radio Service Device (CBSD)    Interface Technical Specification-   Non Patent Literature 3: ECC Report 186, Technical and operational    requirements for the operation of white space devices under    geo-location approach, CEPT ECC, 2013 January-   Non Patent Literature 4: White Space Database Provider (WSDB)    Contract, available at http://www.ofcom.org.uk/_data/assets/pdf    file/0026/84077/w hite space database contract for operational use    of wsds.pd f-   Non Patent Literature 5: WINNF-TS-0096-V1.2.0 Signaling Protocols    and Procedures for Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS): Spectrum    Access System (SAS)—SAS Interface Technical Specification-   Non Patent Literature 6: WINNF-TS-0112-V1.4.1 Requirements for    Commercial Operation in the U.S. 3550-3700 MHz Citizens Broadband    Radio Service Band

SUMMARY Technical Problem

However, the radio wave resources may not be effectively utilized bysimply using white space. For example, to implement effectiveutilization of radio wave resources, white space needs to be efficientlyallocated to a plurality of radio systems (radio devices). However, itis not easy to efficiently allocate the white space when there arevarious types of radio systems.

Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a communication controldevice, a method of controlling communication, and a communicationsystem that can achieve efficient utilization of radio wave resources.

Solution to Problem

To solve the above problems, a communication control device according tothe present disclosure includes: an acquisition unit that acquires aspectrum grant request following a certain scheme from a plurality ofsecond radio systems that perform a wireless communication using a radiowave of a frequency band used by a first radio system; a classificationunit that groups the second radio systems into a plurality of groupsaccording to the scheme of the spectrum grant request; and a calculationunit that calculates a communication parameter of the second radiosystem for each of the groups.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of allocatinginterference margins to communication devices configuring a secondarysystem.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a tiered structure of aCBRS.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the CBRS band.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of acommunication system according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a model in which communication controldevices are arranged in a dispersed manner.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a model in which one communicationcontrol device controls a plurality of communication control devices ina centrally controlled manner.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of acommunication device according to the embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a terminaldevice according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of acommunication control device according to the embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of aninterference model assumed in the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another example of theinterference model assumed in the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a method for protecting a primarysystem of an interference margin batch allocation type.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a state when a leftover margin isgenerated.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a method for protecting a primarysystem of an interference margin iterative allocation type.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining a leftover margin in a method forprotecting a primary system of a low interference node priority type.

FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram for explaining an available spectrum queryprocedure.

FIG. 17 is a sequence diagram for explaining a spectrum grant procedure.

FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram for explaining a spectrum use notificationprocedure.

FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram for explaining an exchanging procedure ofmanagement information.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a communicationcontrol process according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a maximum allowabletransmission power calculation process according to the embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the maximumallowable transmission power calculation process according to theembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the maximumallowable transmission power calculation process according to theembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 24 is a sequence diagram illustrating an exchange between a mastercommunication control device and slave communication control devices.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described indetail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, thesame reference numerals are used to denote the same components, andrepeated description thereof will be omitted.

In the present specification and drawings, a plurality of componentshaving substantially the same functional configuration may bedistinguished from each other by adding different numerals after thesame reference numerals. For example, a plurality of configurationshaving substantially the same functional configuration are distinguishedfrom each other such as communication control devices 40 ₁ and 40 ₂according to the needs. However, when it is not necessary toparticularly distinguish between the components having substantially thesame functional configuration, only the same reference numeral isdenoted. For example, when it is not necessary to particularlydistinguish between the communication control devices 40 ₁ and 40 ₂, thecommunication control devices 40 ₁ and 40 ₂ are simply referred to as acommunication control device 40.

The present disclosure will be described according to the following itemorder.

1. Introduction

2. Configuration of Communication System

2-1. Overall Configuration of Communication System

2-2. Configuration of Communication Device

2-3. Configuration of Terminal Device

2-4. Configuration of Communication Control Device

3. Interference Model

4. Method for Protecting Primary System

4-1. Interference Margin Batch Allocation Type

4-2. Interference Margin Iterative Allocation Type

5. Explanation of Various Procedures

5-1. Registration Procedure

5-2. Available Spectrum Query Procedure

5-3. Spectrum Grant Procedure

5-4. Spectrum Use Notification

5-5. Addition to Various Procedures

5-6. Various Procedures relating to Terminal Device

5-7. Procedures Generated between Communication Control Devices

6. Operation of Protecting Primary System

6-1. Communication Control Process

6-2. Maximum Allowable Transmission Power Calculation Process (FirstExample)

6-3. Maximum Allowable Transmission Power Calculation Process (SecondExample)

6-4. Maximum Allowable Transmission Power Calculation Process (ThirdExample)

7. Modifications

7-1. Master/Slave Model

7-2. Application of Embodiment

7-3. Modification of System Configuration

7-4. Other Modifications

8. Conclusion

1. INTRODUCTION

There has been a problem in that radio wave resources (for example,frequencies) to be allocated to radio systems are becoming scarce.However, because all radio wave bands are already used by the existingradio systems, it is difficult to allocate new radio wave resources.Thus, in recent years, more effective utilization of radio waveresources using a cognitive radio technology is attracting attention.

In the cognitive radio technology, radio wave resources are obtainedusing temporal and spatial white space of the existing radio systems(for example, dynamic spectrum access (DSA)). For example, in the UnitedStates, legislation and standardization of citizens broadband radioservice (CBRS) using spectrum sharing technologies are accelerating, toopen the federal use band (3.55-3.70 GHz) overlapping the frequencybands of 3GPP bands 42 and 43 worldwide, to the general public.

The cognitive radio technology not only contributes to dynamic spectrumaccess, but also to the improvement of the spectrum utilizationefficiency of radio systems. For example, coexistence techniques betweenradio systems using white space are prescribed in the EuropeanTelecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) EN 303 387 and Instituteof Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. (IEEE) 802.19.1-2014.

In general, in spectrum sharing, a national regulatory authority (NRA)of a country or a region imposes obligations to protect the radio system(primary system) of the first user (primary user) that is licensed orauthorized to use the frequency band. Typically, an allowableinterference reference value of the primary system is provided by theNRA, and the second user (secondary user) of the radio system (secondarysystem) is required to keep a given interference caused by sharing belowthe allowable interference reference value.

For example, to implement spectrum sharing, the communication controldevice (for example, spectrum management database) controls thecommunication of the secondary system such that the secondary systemdoes not give a fatal interference to the primary system. Thecommunication control device is a device for managing communication ofthe communication device and the like. For example, the communicationcontrol device is a device (system) for managing radio wave resources(for example, frequencies) such as a geo-location database (GLDB) and aspectrum access system (SAS). In the present embodiment, thecommunication control device corresponds to a communication controldevice 40 (for example, communication control devices 40 ₁ and 40 ₂illustrated in FIG. 4), which will be described below. The communicationcontrol device 40 will be described in detail below.

For example, in this example, the primary system is a system (forexample, existing system) that uses radio waves in a predeterminedfrequency band prior to the other system such as a secondary system. Forexample, the secondary system is a system that secondarily uses theradio waves in the frequency band used by the primary system (forexample, dynamic spectrum access). The primary system and the secondarysystem may be configured of a plurality of communication devices, or maybe configured by a single communication device. The communicationcontrol device allocates an allowable interference amount (may also bereferred to as an interference margin) to one or more communicationdevices so that the interference aggregation of one or morecommunication devices, which are configuring the secondary system,applied to the primary system does not exceed the allowable interferenceamount of the primary system. In such a case, the allowable interferenceamount may also be an interference amount defined in advance by theoperator of the primary system, public authorities managing the radiowaves, or the like. In the following explanation, the interferencemargin indicates the allowable interference amount. The interferenceaggregation may also be referred to as an aggregated given interferencepower.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of allocatinginterference margins to communication devices configuring a secondarysystem. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, a communication system 1is the primary system, and a communication system 2 is the secondarysystem. The communication system 1 includes a communication device 10 ₁and the like. The communication system 2 includes communication devices20 ₁, 20 ₂, 20 ₃, and the like. In the example of FIG. 1, thecommunication system 1 only includes a single communication device 10.However, the communication system 1 may also include a plurality of thecommunication devices 10. In the example of FIG. 1, the communicationsystem 2 includes three communication devices 20. However, thecommunication system 2 may also include less than three communicationdevices 20, or may include more than three communication devices 20. Inthe example of FIG. 1, there are only one primary system (communicationsystem 1 in the example of FIG. 1) and one secondary system(communication system 2 in the example of FIG. 1). However, there mayalso be a plurality of primary systems and secondary systems.

The communication device 10 ₁ and the communication devices 20 ₁, 20 ₂,and 20 ₃ can each transmit and receive radio waves. The allowableinterference amount of the communication device 10 ₁ is I_(accept). Theinterference amounts applied to a predetermined protection point of thecommunication system 1 (primary system) from the communication devices20 ₁, 20 ₂, and 20 ₃ are given interference amounts I₁, I₂, and I₃,respectively. In this example, the protection point is an interferencecalculation reference point used for protecting the communication system1.

The communication control device allocates the interference marginI_(accept) to the communication devices 20 so as the interferenceaggregation at the predetermined protection point of the communicationsystem 1 (received interference amount I₁+I₂+I₃ illustrated in FIG. 1)does not exceed the interference margin I_(accept). For example, thecommunication control device allocates the interference marginI_(accept) to the communication devices 20 so that the giveninterference amounts I₁, I₂, and I₃ each become I_(accept)/3. Thecommunication control device may also allocate the interference marginI_(accept) to the communication devices 20 such that the giveninterference amounts I₁, I₂, and I₃ each become smaller thanI_(accept)/3. Needless to say, the method of allocating the interferencemargin is not limited to the example.

The communication control device calculates the maximum transmissionpower allowed to each of the communication devices 20 (hereinafter,referred to as a maximum allowable transmission power) on the basis ofthe interference amount allocated to the communication device 20(hereinafter, referred to as an allocated interference amount). Forexample, the communication control device calculates the maximumallowable transmission power of each communication device 20, bycounting backward from the allocated interference amount, on the basisof a propagation loss, an antenna gain, and the like. The communicationcontrol device then notifies the communication devices 20 of informationon the calculated maximum allowable transmission power.

To protect the primary system, there are some known techniques fordetermining the maximum allowable transmission power of the secondarysystem.

For example, Non Patent Literature 3 discloses three kinds of schemes ofcalculating maximum allowable transmission power (fixed/predetermined,flexible, and flexible minimized) on the basis of the positioninformation of the secondary system in the database, as a technique forprotecting a digital television broadcast (DTV) receiver or a wirelessmicrophone, which is the primary system, from the secondary systems.

Moreover, for example, Non Patent Literature 6 discloses a techniquereferred to as an iterative allocation process (IAP) that adjusts adesired transmission power of a secondary system in the database so thatthe given interference falls below the allowable interference referencevalue of the primary system, on the basis of the position information ofthe secondary system.

The technical difference between the former and the latter is themaximum allowable transmission power of the secondary system used as areference. In the former, the maximum allowable transmission power ofthe secondary system is obtained by using a “value uniquely calculatedfrom a positional relation between the protection reference point of theprimary system and the secondary system” as a reference value, andcalculating and applying the adjustment value, on the basis of one ofthe three kinds of schemes. On the other hand, in the latter, themaximum allowable transmission power of the secondary system is adjusteduntil the maximum allowable transmission power falls below the allowableinterference reference value of the primary system, using a “desiredtransmission power of the secondary system” as a reference value.

Thus, which method to be used depends on the form of the secondarysystem (for example, topology). For example, it is preferable to applythe latter, if all the secondary systems notify the database of adesired transmission power.

However, depending on the embodiment, all the secondary systems may notalways notify the database of a desired transmission power. In such acase, the former or the latter technique needs to be used depending onthe form described above (for example, topology). However, a techniqueof using different methods for protecting the primary system dependingon the situation has not been disclosed yet.

In the present embodiment, the communication control device acquires aspectrum grant request following a certain scheme from the secondarysystems. The communication control device then groups the secondarysystems into a plurality of groups according to the scheme of thespectrum grant request, and calculates the communication parameters ofthe secondary system for each group. Consequently, in the communicationcontrol device, even when the secondary systems in different formscoexist, the optimal allocation of radio wave resources becomespossible, according to the scheme of the spectrum grant request. As aresult, the efficient utilization of radio wave resources will bepossible.

The communication control device may also calculate the communicationparameters of the secondary system in a predetermined group order. Byfirst calculating the group in which the interference margin is likelyto left over, it is possible to allocate the interference margin(leftover margin) remained in the first calculated group to thefollowing group. As a result, more efficient utilization of radio waveresources will be possible.

In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the primary system(communication system 1) and the secondary system (communication system2) are in a spectrum sharing environment. An explanation will be givenusing the CBRS established by the Federal Communications Commission(FCC) of the United States as an example.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a tiered structure of theCBRS. As illustrated in FIG. 2, users of the frequency band areclassified into one of three groups. The groups are referred to as“tiers”. A tiered structure of the three groups includes an Incumbenttier, a Priority Access tier, and a General Authorized Access tier. Inthe tiered structure, the Priority Access tier is placed above theGeneral Authorized Access tier, and the Incumbent tier is placed abovethe Priority Access tier. For example, in the CBRS, a system (existingsystem) in the Incumbent tier is the primary system, and a system in theGeneral Authorized Access tier and the Priority Access tier is thesecondary system.

The Incumbent tier is a group including existing users of the sharedfrequency band. In the CBRS, the Department of Defense (DOD), fixedsatellite services, and Grandfathered Wireless Broadband Licensees(GWBLs) are defined as existing users. The “Incumbent tier” users arenot required to avoid or suppress interference to the “Priority Accesstier” and the “GAA tier” that have a lower priority. Moreover, the“Incumbent tier” users are protected from interference from the“Priority Access tier” and the “GAA tier”. In other words, the“Incumbent tier” users can use the frequency band without consideringthe presence of other groups.

The Priority Access tier is a group including users who have a licensereferred to as a priority access license (PAL). The “Priority Accesstier” users are required to avoid or suppress interference to the“Incumbent tier” that has a higher priority than the “Priority Accesstier”, but are not required to avoid or suppress interference to the“GAA tier” that has a lower priority than the “Priority Access tier”.The “Priority Access tier” users are not protected from interferencefrom the “Incumbent tier” that has a higher priority than the “PriorityAccess tier”, but are protected from interference from the “GAA tier”that has a lower priority than the “Priority Access tier”.

The GAA tier is a group including all users who do not belong to the“Incumbent tier” or the “Priority Access tier”. The GAA tier users arerequired to avoid or suppress interference to the “Incumbent tier” andthe “Priority Access tier” that have a higher priority. The “GAA tier”users are also not protected from interference from the “Incumbent tier”and the “Priority Access tier” that have a higher priority. In otherwords, the “GAA tier” is a “tier” required to use opportunisticspectrum, legislatively.

The definition of the tiered structure is not limited to the above. Ingeneral, the CBRS has a three-tiered structure, but may also have atwo-tiered structure. As a typical example, there is a two-tieredstructure such as licensed shared access (LSA) and TV band white space(TVWS). In the LSA, a structure equivalent to the combination of theabove-mentioned “Incumbent tier” and “Priority Access tier” is employed.In the TVWS, a structure equivalent to the combination of theabove-mentioned “Incumbent tier” and “GAA tier” is employed. Moreover,there may also be four or more tiers. More specifically, for example, anintermediate tier corresponding to the “Priority Access tier” may befurther prioritized and the like. Moreover, for example, the “GAA tier”may be similarly prioritized.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the CBRS band. Forexample, in the CBRS described above, the primary system is a militaryradar system, a Grandfathered Wireless system, or a fixed satelliteservice (space-to-earth). A typical example of the military radar systemis a shipborne radar. The secondary system is a wireless network systemincluding a base station and a terminal referred to as a citizensbroadband radio service device (CBSD) and an end user device (EUD). Thesecondary system is further prioritized into a priority access license(PAL) that allows the users to access a shared band with the license,and general authorized access (GAA) similar to license exempt. A tier 1illustrated in FIG. 3 corresponds to the Incumbent tier illustrated inFIG. 2. A tier 2 illustrated in FIG. 3 corresponds to the PriorityAccess tier illustrated in FIG. 2. A tier 3 illustrated in FIG. 3corresponds to the General Authorized Access tier illustrated in FIG. 2.

The primary system (communication system 1) of the present embodiment isnot limited to the example illustrated in FIG. 3. The primary system(communication system 1) may also be another type of radio system. Forexample, another radio system may be used as the primary systemdepending on the country, region, and frequency band to be applied. Forexample, the primary system may be a television broadcasting system suchas a digital video broadcasting-terrestrial (DVB-T) system. The primarysystem may also be a radio system called a fixed system (FS). Theprimary system may also share spectrum in the other frequency band. As atypical example, there are LSA and TV band white space (TVWS). Theprimary system may also be a cellular communication system such as aLong Term evolution (LTE) and a New Radio (NR). The primary system mayalso be an aeronautical radio system such as an aeronautical radionavigation service (ARNS). Needless to say, the primary system is notlimited to the radio systems described above, and may also be a radiosystem of another type.

The white space used by the communication system 2 is not limited to theradio waves in the federal use band (3.55-3.70 GHz). The communicationsystem 2 may also use radio waves in the frequency band different fromthe federal use band (3.55-3.70 GHz) as the white space. For example, ifthe primary system (communication system 1) is a television broadcastingsystem, the communication system 2 may be a system that uses the TVwhite space as the white space. In this example, the TV white spacerefers to a frequency band not used by the television broadcastingsystem, among the frequency channels allocated to the televisionbroadcasting system (primary system). In such a case, the TV white spacemay also be an unused channel depending on a region.

The relation between the communication system 1 and the communicationsystem 2 is not limited to the relation of spectrum sharing in which thecommunication system 1 is the primary system, and the communicationsystem 2 is the secondary system. The relation between the communicationsystem 1 and the communication system 2 may also be a relation ofnetwork coexistence between the same or different radio systems usingthe same frequency.

In general, in spectrum sharing, the existing system using the targetband is referred to as a primary system, and the secondary user isreferred to as a secondary system. However, when the present embodimentis used in an environment other than a spectrum sharing environment,these terms may be replaced with other terms. For example, a macro cellin the Heterogeneous Network (HetNet) may be referred to as a primarysystem, and a small cell and a relay station may be referred to as asecondary system. Moreover, the base station may be referred to as aprimary system, and a Relay user equipment (UE) and a Vehicle UE forimplementing device-to-device (D2D) and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) thatare present in the coverage may also be referred to as a secondarysystem. The base station is not limited to a fixed type, and may also bea portable type or a movable type. In such a case, for example, thecommunication control device provided in the present invention may alsobe included in a base station, a relay station, a Relay UE, or the like.

The term “frequency” used in the following explanation may also bereplaced with another term. For example, the term “frequency” may bereplaced with terms such as a “resource”, a “resource block”, a“resource element”, a “channel”, a “component carrier”, a “carrier”, anda “sub-carrier”, and a term having the same meaning as theabove-described terms.

2. CONFIGURATION OF COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Hereinafter, the communication system 2 according to the embodiment ofthe present disclosure will be described. The communication system 2 isa wireless communication system that performs a wireless communicationby secondarily using the radio waves used by the communication system 1(first radio system). For example, the communication system 2 is awireless communication system that performs dynamic spectrum access tothe white space of the communication system 1. By using a predeterminedradio access technology, the communication system 2 provides a radioservice to users or devices owned by the users.

In this example, the communication system 2 may also be a cellularcommunication system such as wideband code division multiple access(W-CDMA), code division multiple access 2000 (cdma 2000), LTE, or NR. Inthe following explanation, it is assumed that the “LTE” includesLTE-Advanced (LTE-A), LTE-Advanced Pro (LTE-A Pro), and EvolvedUniversal Terrestrial Radio Access (EUTRA). It is assumed that the “NR”includes a New Radio Access Technology (NRAT) and Further EUTRA(FEUTRA). The communication system 2 is not limited to the cellularcommunication system. For example, the communication system 2 may alsobe another wireless communication system such as a wireless local areanetwork (LAN) system, a television broadcasting system, an aeronauticalradio system, and a space wireless communication system.

In the present embodiment, the communication system 1 is a primarysystem, and the communication system 2 is a secondary system. Asdescribed above, there may also be a plurality of the communicationsystems 1 and the communication systems 2. In the example illustrated inFIG. 1, the communication system 1 includes a single communicationdevice 10 (communication device 10 ₁ illustrated in FIG. 1). However,the communication system 1 may also include a plurality of thecommunication devices 10. The configuration of the communication device10 may be the same as that of the communication device 20 or a terminaldevice 30, which will be described below.

2-1. Overall Configuration of Communication System

Typically, the communication system 2 is formed by the followingentities.

Communication Device

Terminal Device

Communication Control Device

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of thecommunication system 2 according to the embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The communication system 2 includes the communication device20, the terminal device 30, and the communication control device 40. Thecommunication system 2 may also include a network manager 50. Thecommunication system 2 provides a radio service to users or devicesowned by the users, when the wireless communication devices configuringthe communication system 2 operate in a cooperative manner. The wirelesscommunication device is a device having a wireless communicationfunction, and in the example of FIG. 4, the wireless communicationdevice corresponds to the communication device 20 and the terminaldevice 30. The communication control device 40 may also have a wirelesscommunication function. In this case, the communication control device40 may also be considered as the wireless communication device. In thefollowing explanation, the wireless communication device may also besimply referred to as a communication device.

The communication system 2 may also include a plurality of thecommunication devices 20, the terminal devices 30, and the communicationcontrol devices 40. In the example of FIG. 4, the communication system 1includes communication devices 20 ₁, 20 ₂, 20 ₃, 20 ₄, 20 ₅, and thelike, serving as the communication device 20. The communication system 2also includes terminal devices 30 ₁, 30 ₂, 30 ₃, 30 ₄, and the like,serving as the terminal device 30. The communication system 1 includescommunication control devices 40 ₁, 40 ₂, and the like serving as thecommunication control device 40.

In the following explanation, the communication device (wirelesscommunication device) may also be referred to as a radio system. Forexample, each of the communication device 10 and the communicationdevices 20 ₁ to 20 ₅ is a single radio system. Each of the terminaldevices 30 ₁ to 30 ₄ is a single radio system. The radio system may alsobe a single system configured by a plurality of the wirelesscommunication devices. For example, a system including one or morecommunication devices 20 and one or more terminal devices 30 under eachof the communication devices 20, may also be considered as a singleradio system. Moreover, each of the communication system 1 and thecommunication system 2 may be considered as a single radio system. Inthe following explanation, the communication system configured by thewireless communication devices may also be referred to as a wirelesscommunication system, or may simply be referred to as a communicationsystem.

The communication device 20 (second radio system) is a wirelesscommunication device that performs a wireless communication with theterminal device 30 or another communication device 20. For example, thecommunication device 20 is a device corresponding to a radio basestation (such as base station, Node B, eNB, and gNB) and a radio accesspoint (access point). The communication device 20 may also be a radiorelay station. Moreover, the communication device 20 may be a lightextension device referred to as a remote radio head (RRH). In thepresent embodiment, the base station of the wireless communicationsystem may be referred to as a base station device. The radio accesstechnology used by the communication device 20 may be a cellularcommunication technology or a wireless LAN technology. Needless to say,the radio access technology used by the communication device 20 is notlimited thereto, and may also be another radio access technology.

The communication device 20 may not necessarily be fixed, and may alsobe installed in a mobile body such as an automobile. Moreover, thecommunication device 20 may not necessarily be on the ground, and mayalso be an object in the air or space such as an aircraft, a drone, ahelicopter, and a satellite; or an object over or under the sea such asa vessel and a submarine, provided with a communication device function.In such a case, the communication device 20 can perform wirelesscommunication with another communication device installed in a fixedmanner.

The coverage of the communication device 20 may be large in size such asa microcell, or may be small in size such as a picocell. Needless tosay, the coverage of the communication device 20 may also be extremelysmall in size such as a femtocell. When the communication device 20 hasbeamforming capability, a cell and a service area may be formed for eachbeam.

The communication device 20 may be used, operated, and managed byvarious entities. For example, the communication device 20 may be used,operated, and managed by a mobile network operator (MNO), a mobilevirtual network operator (MVNO), a mobile virtual network enabler(MVNE), a neutral host network (NHN) operator, an enterprise, aneducation institution (such as an incorporated educational institutionand a municipal education board), a real estate (such as a building anda condominium) manager, an individual, and the like. Needless to say,the entities that use, operate, and manage the communication device 20are not limited thereto.

The communication device 20 may be installed and operated by a singleoperator, or may be installed and operated by an individual. Needless tosay, the entities that install and operate the communication device 20are not limited thereto. For example, the communication device 20 mayalso be installed and operated by a plurality of operators andindividuals. Moreover, the communication device 20 may also be a sharedfacility used by operators or individuals. In this case, the facilitymay be installed and operated by a third party different from the user.

Typically, the communication device 20 operated by the operator isconnected to the Internet via a core network. The communication device20 is also operated, managed, and maintained by functions referred to asoperation, administration, and maintenance (OA&M). For example, thecommunication device 20 may also include a network manager thatintegrally controls the communication devices 20 in the network.

The concept of the base station includes an access point and a radiorelay station (may also be referred to as a relay station). The conceptof the base station not only includes a structure having the function ofthe base station, but also includes a device installed in the structure.For example, the structure is a building such as an office building, ahouse, a steel tower, station facilities, airport facilities, portfacilities, and a stadium. The concept of the structure not onlyincludes a building, but also includes a non-building structure such asa tunnel, a bridge, a dam, a fence, and a steel pole, and facilitiessuch as a crane, a gate, and a windmill. The concept of the structurenot only includes a structure on the ground (land) or underground, butalso includes a structure over the water such as a pier and amega-float, and an underwater structure such as marine observationfacilities.

The base station may also be a base station (mobile station) configuredin a movable manner. In such a case, the base station (mobile station)may be a wireless communication device installed in a mobile body, ormay be a mobile body itself. The mobile body may also be a mobile bodythat moves on the ground (land) (for example, a vehicle such as anautomobile, a bus, a truck, a train, and a linear motor car), or may bea mobile body that moves underground (such as in a tunnel) (for example,a subway). Needless to say, the mobile body may also be a mobileterminal such as a smartphone. The mobile body may also be a mobile bodythat moves over the water (for example, a ship such as a passenger ship,a cargo ship, and a hovercraft), or a mobile body that moves under thewater (for example, a submersible vessel such as a submersible ship, asubmarine, and an unmanned diving machine). The mobile body may also bea mobile body that moves within the atmosphere (for example, an aircraftsuch as an airplane, an airship, and a drone), or a space vehicle thatmoves outside the atmosphere (for example, an artificial astronomicalobject such as an artificial satellite, a spacecraft, a space station,and a space probe).

The terminal device 30 is a communication apparatus having acommunication function. Typically, the terminal device 30 is acommunication apparatus such as a smartphone. The terminal device 30 mayalso be a user terminal such as a mobile phone, a smart device (asmartphone or a tablet), a wearable terminal, a personal digitalassistant (PDA), and a personal computer. The terminal device may alsobe referred to as a user equipment, a user terminal, a user station, amobile terminal, a mobile station, and the like.

The terminal device 30 may not necessarily be used by a person. Theterminal device 30 may also be a sensor installed in factory machinesand buildings used for what is called a machine type communication(MTC). The terminal device 30 may also be a machine to machine (M2M)device or an Internet of Things (IoT) device. As represented by thedevice-to-device (D2D) and vehicle-to-everything (V2X), the terminaldevice 30 may also be a device having a relay communication function.The terminal device 30 may also be an apparatus referred to as a clientpremises equipment (CPE) used in a wireless backhaul and the like. Theterminal device 30 may also be a wireless communication device installedin a mobile body, or a mobile body itself.

The terminal device 30 may not necessarily be placed on the ground. Theterminal device 30 may also be an object in the air or space such as anaircraft, a drone, a helicopter, and a satellite, or an object over orunder the sea such as a vessel and a submarine.

The communication control device 40 is a device that manages thecommunication device 20. For example, the communication control device40 is a device for controlling the wireless communication of thecommunication device 20. For example, the communication control device40 determines the communication parameters (may also be referred to asoperational parameters) used by the communication device 20, and givespermission or instruction to the communication device 20. In such acase, the communication control device 40 may also be a network managerthat integrally controls the radio devices in the network. For example,in ETSI EN 303 387 and IEEE 802.19.1-2014, the communication controldevice 40 may be a control device such as a spectrum manager/coexistencemanager that performs radio wave interference control between the radioapparatuses. Moreover, for example, the communication control device 40may also be a registered location secure server (RLSS) defined in IEEE802.11-2016. Furthermore, in the spectrum sharing environment, thecommunication control device 40 may also be a database (a databaseserver, a device, and a system) such as a geolocation database (GLDB)and a spectrum access system (SAS). Basically, the communication controldevice 40 controls the communication device 20. However, thecommunication control device 40 may also control the terminal device 30under the communication device 20.

A single communication system 2 may also include a plurality of thecommunication control devices 40. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating amodel in which the communication control devices 40 are arranged in adispersed manner. In this case, the communication control devices 40 (inthe example of FIG. 5, the communication control device 40 ₁ and thecommunication control device 40 ₂) exchange information on thecommunication device 20 that is managed by the communication controldevice 40 ₁ and the communication control device 40 ₂. The communicationcontrol device 40 ₁ and the communication control device 40 ₂ thenallocate the required frequencies and calculate interference control.

The communication control device 40 may also be a master/slave typedevice. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a model (what is called amaster/slave type model) in which one communication control devicecontrols a plurality of communication control devices in a centrallycontrolled manner. In the example of FIG. 6, the communication controldevice 40 ₃ is a master communication control device, and thecommunication control devices 40 ₄ and 40 ₅ are slave communicationcontrol devices. In case of such a system, the master communicationcontrol device can integrate a plurality of the slave communicationcontrol devices, and make decisions intensively. The mastercommunication control device can also delegate or denounce the decisionmaking authority with respect to the slave communication control devicesto distribute load (balance load) and the like.

Because of the role, the communication control device 40 can alsoacquire required information from the entities other than thecommunication device 20 and the terminal device 30. More specifically,for example, the communication control device 40 can acquire informationrequired for protecting the primary system such as the positioninformation, from the database (regulatory database) managed andoperated by the radio wave administration of the country or region. Forexample, the regulatory database includes a Universal Licensing System(ULS) operated by the US Federal Communications Commissions and thelike. For example, the information required for protecting the primarysystem may also include an out-of-band emission (OOBE) limit, anadjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR), an adjacent channel selectivity,a fading margin, a protection ratio (PR), and/or like. When numericalvalues are fixedly given, it is preferable to use the numerical values,legislatively.

As another example, radio sensing information may also be acquired froma radio sensing system that is installed and operated to detect theradio waves of the primary system. As a specific example, radio wavedetection information of the primary system may be acquired from a radiosensing system such as an Environmental Sensing Capability (ESC) in theUS CBRS. When the communication device or the terminal has a sensingfunction, the radio wave detection information of the primary system mayalso be acquired therefrom.

An interface between the entities may be either wired or wireless. Forexample, an interface between the communication control device and thecommunication device is not limited to a wire circuit, but may also be awireless interface that does not depend on spectrum sharing (forexample, a wireless interface provided via a licensed band by a mobilenetwork operator or a Wi-Fi communication using an existinglicense-exempt band.

Hereinafter, a configuration of each device configuring thecommunication system 2 will be described in detail.

2-2. Configuration of Communication Device

First, a configuration of the communication device 20 will be described.FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of thecommunication device 20 according to the embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The communication device 20 is a wireless communicationdevice (radio system) that performs a wireless communication with theterminal device 30 under the control of the communication control device40. For example, the communication device 20 is a base station device(ground station device) located on the ground. In such a case, thecommunication device 20 may be a base station device placed in astructure on the ground, or a base station device installed in a mobilebody that moves on the ground. More specifically, the communicationdevice 20 may be an antenna installed on a structure such as a building,and a signal processing device connected to the antenna. Needless tosay, the communication device 20 may also be a structure or a mobilebody itself. “On the ground” does not literally means on the ground(land) but means on the ground in a broad sense including underground,over the water, and under the water.

The communication device 20 is not limited to the ground station device.For example, the communication device 20 may also be a base stationdevice (non-ground station device) that moves or floats in the air orspace. In such a case, the communication device 20 may also be anaircraft station device or a satellite station device.

The aircraft station device may be a device mounted on an aircraft andthe like, or an aircraft itself. The concept of the aircraft not onlyincludes a heavy aircraft such as an airplane and a glider, but alsoincludes a light aircraft such as a balloon and an airship. The conceptof the aircraft also includes a rotorcraft such as a helicopter and anautogiro. The aircraft station device (or an aircraft on which anaircraft station device is mounted) may be a manned aircraft, or anunmanned aircraft such as a drone.

The satellite station device may be a device mounted on a space vehiclesuch as an artificial satellite, or a space vehicle itself. A satelliteto be the satellite station device may be any one of a low earthorbiting (LEO) satellite, a medium earth orbiting (MEO) satellite, ageostationary earth orbiting (GEO) satellite, and a highly ellipticalorbiting (HEO) satellite. Needless to say, the satellite station devicemay also be a device mounted on the LEO satellite, the MEO satellite,the GEO satellite, or the HEO satellite.

The communication device 20 may also be a relay station device. Forexample, the relay station device is an aeronautical station and anearth station. The relay station device can be considered as one type ofthe relay devices described above. The aeronautical station is a radiostation installed on the ground or in a mobile body that moves on theground, to communicate with an aircraft station device. The earthstation is a radio station located on the earth (includes in the air) tocommunicate with a satellite station device. The earth station may be alarge earth station, or a small earth station such as a very smallaperture terminal (VSAT). The earth station may also be a VSAT controlearth station (may also be referred to as a master station or a HUBstation), or a VSAT earth station (may also be referred to as a slavestation). The earth station may also be a radio station installed in amobile body that moves on the ground. For example, the earth stationmounted on a ship includes earth stations on board vessels (ESVs). Theearth station may also include an aircraft earth station installed in anaircraft (including a helicopter) and that communicates with a satellitestation. The earth station may also include an aeronautical earthstation that is installed in a mobile body that moves on the ground, andthat communicates with an aircraft earth station via a satellitestation. The relay station device may also be a portable and movableradio station that communicates with the satellite station and theaircraft station.

The communication device 20 includes a wireless communication unit 21, astorage unit 22, a network communication unit 23, and a control unit 24.The configuration illustrated in FIG. 7 is a functional configuration,and the hardware configuration may be different therefrom. The functionof the communication device 20 may be implemented on a plurality ofphysically separated devices in a dispersed manner.

The wireless communication unit 21 is a wireless communication interfacethat performs a wireless communication with another communication device(for example, the terminal device 30, the communication control device40, and another communication device 20). The wireless communicationunit 21 is operated according to the control of the control unit 24. Thewireless communication unit 21 may correspond to a plurality of radioaccess technologies. For example, the wireless communication unit 21 maycorrespond to both NR and LTE. The wireless communication unit 21 mayalso correspond to another cellular communication scheme such as W-CDMAand cdma 2000. In addition to the cellular communication scheme, thewireless communication unit 21 may also correspond to a wireless LANcommunication scheme. Needless to say, the wireless communication unit21 may only correspond to one radio access technology.

The wireless communication unit 21 includes a reception processing unit211, a transmission processing unit 212, and an antenna 213. Thewireless communication unit 21 may also include a plurality of thereception processing units 211, the transmission processing units 212,and the antennas 213. When the wireless communication unit 21corresponds to a plurality of radio access technologies, each unit ofthe wireless communication unit 21 may be individually configured foreach radio access technology. For example, when the communication device20 corresponds to NR and LTE, the reception processing unit 211 and thetransmission processing unit 212 may be individually configured for NRand LTE.

The reception processing unit 211 processes an uplink signal receivedvia the antenna 213. The reception processing unit 211 includes a radioreception unit 211 a, a demultiplexing unit 211 b, a demodulation unit211 c, and a decoding unit 211 d.

The radio reception unit 211 a performs down conversion, removal ofunnecessary frequency components, amplification level control,orthogonal demodulation, conversion into a digital signal, removal of aguard interval, and extraction of a frequency domain signal by fastFourier transform, on the uplink signal. For example, it is assumed thatthe radio access technology of the communication device 20 is a cellularcommunication scheme such as LTE. In such a case, the demultiplexingunit 211 b separates an uplink channel such as a physical uplink sharedchannel (PUSCH) and a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), and anuplink reference signal, from a signal output from the radio receptionunit 211 a. The demodulation unit 211 c demodulates a reception signalfor a modulation symbol of the uplink channel, using a modulation schemesuch as binary phase shift keying (BPSK) and quadrature phase shiftkeying (QPSK). The modulation scheme used by the demodulation unit 211 cmay also be a 16 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), a 64 QAM, or a256 QAM. The decoding unit 211 d performs a decoding process on encodedbits of the demodulated uplink channel. The decoded uplink data anduplink control information are output to the control unit 24.

The transmission processing unit 212 transmits downlink controlinformation and downlink data. The transmission processing unit 212includes an encoding unit 212 a, a modulation unit 212 b, a multiplexingunit 212 c, and a radio transmission unit 212 d.

The encoding unit 212 a encodes the downlink control information anddownlink data input from the control unit 24, using an encoding schemesuch as block coding, convolutional coding, and turbo coding. Themodulation unit 212 b modulates the encoded bits output from theencoding unit 212 a using a predetermined modulation scheme such asBPSK, QPSK, 16 QAM, 64 QAM, and 256 QAM. The multiplexing unit 212 cmultiplexes the modulation symbol and the downlink reference signal ofeach channel, and arranges the multiplexed result in a predeterminedresource element. The radio transmission unit 212 d performs varioustypes of signal processing on the signal from the multiplexing unit 212c. For example, the radio transmission unit 212 d performs processessuch as conversion to the time domain by fast Fourier transform,addition of a guard interval, generation of a baseband digital signal,conversion into an analog signal, orthogonal modulation, up conversion,removal of excess frequency components, and amplification of electricpower. The signal generated by the transmission processing unit 212 istransmitted from the antenna 213.

The storage unit 22 is a storage device that can read and write datasuch as dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory(SRAM), flash memory, and hard disk. The storage unit 22 functions as astorage unit for the communication device 20. The storage unit 22 storestherein desired transmission power information, operational parameters,holding resource information, and the like.

The desired transmission power information is information ontransmission power requested from the communication device 20 to thecommunication control device 40, as the information on transmissionpower required for transmitting radio waves.

The operational parameters are information (for example, settinginformation) on the radio wave transmission operation of thecommunication device 20. For example, the operational parameters areinformation on maximum value of the transmission power (maximumallowable transmission power) allowed to the communication device 20.Needless to say, the operational parameters are not limited to theinformation on maximum allowable transmission power.

The holding resource information is information on radio resources heldby the communication device 20. For example, the holding resourceinformation is information on radio resources that can be currently usedby the communication device 20. For example, the holding resourceinformation is holding amount information of the interference marginallocated to the communication device 20 from the communication controldevice 40. The holding amount information may also be information on aresource block unit, which will be described below. In other words, theholding resource information may also be information on a resource block(for example, resource block holding amount) held by the communicationdevice 20.

The network communication unit 23 is a communication interface used forcommunicating with another device. For example, the networkcommunication unit 23 is a local area network (LAN) interface such as anetwork interface card. The network communication unit 23 may also be auniversal serial bus (USB) host controller, and a USB interfaceincluding a USB port and the like. The network communication unit 23 mayalso be a wired interface or a wireless interface. The networkcommunication unit 23 functions as a network communication unit for thecommunication device 20. The network communication unit 23 communicateswith another device according to the control of the control unit 24.

The control unit 24 is a controller that controls the units in thecommunication device 20. For example, the control unit 24 is implementedby a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) and a microprocessing unit (MPU). For example, the control unit 24 is implementedwhen the processor executes various programs stored in the storagedevice in the communication device 20, using a random access memory(RAM) and the like as a work area. The control unit 24 may also beimplemented by an integrated circuit such as an application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC) and a field programmable gate array (FPGA).The CPU, MPU, ASIC, and FPGA may all be considered as controllers.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the control unit 24 includes a generation unit241, a transmission unit 242, and a reception unit 243. Each of theblocks configuring the control unit 24 (generation unit 241 to receptionunit 243) is a functional block indicating the function of the controlunit 24. The functional blocks may be software blocks or hardwareblocks. For example, each of the functional blocks described above maybe a single software module implemented by software (including a microprogram), or a single circuit block on a semiconductor chip (die).Needless to say, each of the functional blocks may also be a singleprocessor or a single integrated circuit. The configuration method ofthe functional blocks is optional. The control unit 24 may also beformed of functional units different from the functional blocksdescribed above. The operation of the blocks (generation unit 241 toreception unit 243) configuring the control unit 24 will be described indetail in the communication control process and the like, which will bedescribed below.

2-3. Configuration of Terminal Device

Next, a configuration of the terminal device 30 will be described. FIG.8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the terminaldevice 30 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. Theterminal device 30 is a communication device that performs a wirelesscommunication with the communication device 20 and the communicationcontrol device 40. In the present embodiment, the concept of thecommunication device (wireless communication device) not only includesthe base station device but also includes the terminal device. Thecommunication device may also be referred to as a radio system.

The terminal device 30 includes a wireless communication unit 31, astorage unit 32, an input and output unit 33, and a control unit 34. Theconfiguration illustrated in FIG. 8 is a functional configuration, andthe hardware configuration may be different therefrom. Moreover, thefunction of the terminal device 30 may be implemented on a plurality ofphysically separated configurations in a dispersed manner.

The wireless communication unit 31 is a wireless communication interfacethat performs a wireless communication with another communication device(for example, the communication device 20 and another terminal device30). The wireless communication unit 31 is operated according to thecontrol of the control unit 34. The wireless communication unit 31corresponds to one or more radio access technologies. For example, thewireless communication unit 31 corresponds to both NR and LTE. Thewireless communication unit 31 may also correspond to another radioaccess technology such as W-CDMA and cdma 2000.

The wireless communication unit 31 includes a reception processing unit311, a transmission processing unit 312, and an antenna 313. Thewireless communication unit 31 may also include a plurality of thereception processing units 311, the transmission processing units 312,and the antennas 313. When the wireless communication unit 31corresponds to a plurality of radio access technologies, each unit ofthe wireless communication unit 31 may be individually configured foreach radio access technology. For example, the reception processing unit311 and the transmission processing unit 312 may be individuallyconfigured for LTE and NR. The configurations of the receptionprocessing unit 311 and the transmission processing unit 312 may be thesame as those of the reception processing unit 211 and the transmissionprocessing unit 212 of the communication device 20.

The storage unit 32 is a storage device that can read and write datasuch as DRAM, SRAM, flash memory, and hard disk. The storage unit 32functions as a storage unit for the terminal device 30.

The input and output unit 33 is a user interface for exchanginginformation with a user. For example, the input and output unit 33 is anoperating device used by a user to perform various operations such as akeyboard, a mouse, an operation key, and a touch panel. The input andoutput unit 33 is also a display device such as a liquid crystal displayand an organic electroluminescence (EL) display. The input and outputunit 33 may also be an acoustic device such as a speaker and a buzzer.The input and output unit 33 may also be a lighting device such as alight emitting diode (LED) lamp. The input and output unit 33 functionsas an input and output unit (an input unit, an output unit, an operationunit, or a notification unit) for the terminal device 30.

The control unit 34 is a controller that controls the units in theterminal device 30. For example, the control unit 34 is implemented by aprocessor such as a CPU and an MPU. For example, the control unit 34 isimplemented when the processor executes various programs stored in thestorage device in the terminal device 30, using the RAM and the like asa work area. The control unit 34 may also be implemented by anintegrated circuit such as an ASIC and a FPGA. The CPU, MPU, ASIC, andFPGA may all be considered as controllers.

2-4. Configuration of Communication Control Device

The communication control device 40 is a device for controlling thewireless communication of the communication device 20. The communicationcontrol device 40 may also control the wireless communication of theterminal device 30 via the communication device 20, or directly. Forexample, the communication control device 40 is a network manager thatintegrally controls the radio device in the network. For example, thecommunication control device 40 is a spectrum manager/coexistencemanager. The communication control device 40 may also be a databaseserver such as a geolocation database (GLDB) and a spectrum accesssystem (SAS). The network manager 50 may also have the sameconfiguration as that of the communication control device 40.

When the communication system 2 is the cellular communication system,the communication control device 40 may be a device configuring a corenetwork. For example, a core network CN is an evolved packet core (EPC)and a 5G core network (5GC). For example, when the core network is theEPC, the communication control device 40 may be a device that functionsas a mobility management entity (MME). For example, when the corenetwork is the 5GC, the communication control device 40 may be a devicethat functions as an access and mobility management function (AMF). Evenwhen the communication system 2 is the cellular communication system,the communication control device 40 may not necessarily be a deviceconfiguring the core network. For example, the communication controldevice 40 may also be a device that functions as a radio networkcontroller (RNC).

The communication control device 40 may also function as a gateway. Forexample, when the core network is the EPC, the communication controldevice 40 may be a device that functions as a serving gateway (S-GW) ora packet data network gateway (P-GW). When the core network is the 5GC,the communication control device 40 may also be a device that functionsas a user plane function (UPF). The communication control device 40 maynot necessarily be a device configuring the core network. For example,when the core network is a core network of the W-CDMA or cdma 2000, thecommunication control device 40 may also be a device that functions as aradio network controller (RNC).

The communication control device 40 may also be a system that controls aplurality of secondary systems. In this case, it is possible to considerthe communication system 2 as a system including the secondary systems.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of thecommunication control device 40 according to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure. The communication control device 40 includes awireless communication unit 41, a storage unit 42, a networkcommunication unit 43, and a control unit 44. The configurationillustrated in FIG. 9 is a functional configuration, and the hardwareconfiguration may be different therefrom. The function of thecommunication control device 40 may be implemented on a plurality ofphysically separated configurations in a dispersed manner. For example,the communication control device 40 may be configured by a plurality ofserver devices.

The wireless communication unit 41 is a wireless communication interfacethat performs a wireless communication with another communication device(for example, the communication device 20, the terminal device 30, andanother communication control device 40). The wireless communicationunit 41 is operated according to the control of the control unit 44. Thewireless communication unit 31 corresponds to one or more radio accesstechnologies. For example, the wireless communication unit 31corresponds to both NR and LTE. The wireless communication unit 31 mayalso correspond to another radio access technology such as W-CDMA andcdma 2000. The configuration of the wireless communication unit 41 isthe same as that of the wireless communication unit 21 of thecommunication device 20.

The storage unit 42 is a storage device that can read and write datasuch as DRAM, SRAM, flash memory, and hard disk. The storage unit 22functions as a storage unit for the communication device 20. The storageunit 22 stores therein operational parameters of the communicationdevices 20 configuring the communication system 2. The storage unit 22may also store therein holding resource information of the communicationdevices 20 configuring the communication system 2. As described above,the holding resource information is information on radio resources heldby the communication device 20.

The network communication unit 43 is a communication interface used forcommunicating with another device. The network communication unit 43 maybe a network interface, or a device connection interface. For example,the network communication unit 43 may be a local area network (LAN)interface such as a network interface card (NIC). The networkcommunication unit 43 may also be a universal serial bus (USB) hostcontroller, or a USB interface including a USB port and the like. Thenetwork communication unit 43 may also be a wired interface or awireless interface. The network communication unit 43 functions as acommunication unit for the communication control device 40. The networkcommunication unit 43 communicates with the communication device 20 andthe terminal device 30 according to the control of the control unit 44.

The control unit 44 is a controller that controls the units in thecommunication control device 40. For example, the control unit 44 isimplemented by a processor such as a CPU and an MPU. For example, thecontrol unit 44 is implemented when the processor executes variousprograms stored in the storage device in the communication controldevice 40 using the RAM and the like as a work area. The control unit 44may also be implemented by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC and aFPGA. The CPU, MPU, ASIC, and FPGA may all be considered as controllers.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the control unit 44 includes an acquisitionunit 441, a classification unit 442, a calculation unit 443, adetermination unit 444, a notification unit 445, a requesting unit 446,and a processing unit 447. Each of the blocks (acquisition unit 441 toprocessing unit 447) configuring the control unit 44 is a functionalblock indicating the function of the control unit 44. The functionalblock may be a software block or a hardware block. For example, each ofthe functional blocks described above may be a single software moduleimplemented by software (including a micro program), or a single circuitblock on a semiconductor chip (die). Needless to say, each of thefunctional blocks may also be a single processor or a single integratedcircuit. The configuration method of the functional block is optional.The control unit 44 may also be configured by functional units differentfrom the functional blocks described above. The operation of the blocks(acquisition unit 441 to processing unit 447) configuring the controlunit 44 will be described in detail in the communication control processand the like, which will be described below.

3. INTERFERENCE MODEL

Next, an interference model assumed in the present embodiment will bedescribed. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example ofan interference model assumed in the present embodiment. For example,the interference model illustrated in FIG. 10 is applied when theprimary system has a service area. In the example of FIG. 10, thecommunication system 1 (primary system) is a wireless communicationsystem having a service area. For example, the service area is aprotection area of the communication system 1. A plurality ofinterference calculation reference points (hereinafter, referred to asprotection points) are set in the protection area. For example, theprotection points are set by the operator of the communication system 1,a public authorities managing the radio waves, or the like (hereinafter,referred to as a manager). For example, the manager may divide theprotection area into a lattice shape, and set the center of apredetermined lattice as a protection point. The determination method ofthe protection point is optional. The interference margin of eachprotection point is set by the manager and the like. FIG. 10 illustratesinterference applied to the protection point, from the communicationdevices 20 configuring the communication system 2 (secondary system).The communication control device 40 of the communication system 2controls the transmission power of the communication devices 20 so thatthe aggregated interference at each protection point does not exceed theset interference margin.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another example of theinterference model assumed in the present embodiment. For example, theinterference model illustrated in FIG. 11 is applied when the primarysystem is only used for reception. In the example of FIG. 11, thecommunication system 1 (primary system) has a reception antenna servingas a communication device 102. For example, the communication device 102is a reception antenna of a satellite ground station. The communicationcontrol device 40 of the communication system 2 sets the position of thereception antenna as a protection point, and controls the transmissionpower of the communication devices 20 so that the aggregatedinterference at the point does not exceed the interference margin.

4. METHOD FOR PROTECTING PRIMARY SYSTEM

Next, a method for protecting a primary system will be explained. Asdescribed above, for example, the method for protecting the primarysystem can be classified into the following two types.

1. Interference Margin Batch Allocation Type

2. Interference Margin Iterative Allocation Type

For example, the method for protecting a primary system of aninterference margin batch allocation type includes a technique disclosedin Non Patent Literature 3 (for example, a calculation technique of themaximum allowable EIRP). For example, the method for protecting aprimary system of an interference margin iterative allocation typeincludes an iterative allocation process (IAP) disclosed in Non PatentLiterature 6.

Hereinafter, the method for protecting the primary system of the“interference margin batch allocation type” and the method forprotecting the primary system of the “interference margin iterativeallocation type” will be described.

4-1. Interference Margin Batch Allocation Type

First, the method for protecting the primary system of the interferencemargin batch allocation type will be described. FIG. 12 is a diagram forexplaining the method for protecting the primary system of theinterference margin batch allocation type. As described above, in theinterference margin batch allocation type, the communication controldevice 40 calculates the maximum allowable transmission power of thesecondary system, using a “value uniquely calculated from the positionalrelation between the protection reference point of the primary systemand the secondary system”, as a reference value. In the example of FIG.12, an allowable interference threshold of the primary system isI_(accept). The threshold may be an actual threshold, or may be a valueset by taking some margins (for example, a protection ratio) intoconsideration from the actual threshold, by taking a calculation errorand interference variation into account.

In the method for protecting the primary system of the interferencemargin batch allocation type, the interference control means todetermine the transmission power of the radio device (EIRP, conductedpower+antenna gain, and the like) so as not to exceed the allowableinterference threshold. When there are a number of the communicationdevices 20, and when each of the communication devices 20 is made not toexceed the allowable interference threshold, the interference powerreceived by the communication system 1 (primary system) may exceed theallowable interference threshold. Thus, the interference margin(allowable interference amount) is “allocated”, on the basis of thenumber of the communication devices 20 registered in the communicationcontrol device 40.

For example, in the example of FIG. 12, the total number of thecommunication devices 20 is five. Thus, the allowable interferenceamount of I_(accept)/5 is allocated to each of the communication devices20. Because the communication device 20 itself cannot recognize theallocation amount, the communication device 20 acquires the transmissionpower recognized through the communication control device, or thetransmission power determined on the basis of the allocation amount.Because the communication control device cannot recognize the number ofradio devices managed by the other communication control device, thecommunication control devices can recognize the total number of theradio devices and allocate the allowable interference amount, byexchanging information with each other. For example, the allowableinterference amount of 3 I_(accept)/5 is allocated to the communicationcontrol device 40 ₁.

In this technique, the interference margin not used by the communicationdevice 20 may become a leftover margin. FIG. 13 is a diagramillustrating a state when a leftover margin is generated. FIG. 13illustrates the total interference amount set for each of the twocommunication control devices 40 (communication control devices 40 ₁ and40 ₂). FIG. 13 also illustrates the interference amount (giveninterference amount) applied to a predetermined protection point of thecommunication system 1 from the communication devices 20 (communicationdevices 20 ₁ to 20 ₃) managed by the two communication control devices40. An interference amount obtained by subtracting the interferenceamount of the communication device 20 from the total interferenceamounts of the two communication control devices 40 is a leftovermargin. In the following explanation, the remained interference amountis referred to as a leftover margin. The leftover margin may also bereferred to as a leftover interference amount.

4-2. Interference Margin Iterative Allocation Type

Next, a method for protecting the primary system of the interferencemargin iterative allocation type will be described. As described above,in the interference margin iterative allocation type, the communicationcontrol device 40 calculates the maximum allowable transmission power ofthe secondary system, using a “desired transmission power of thesecondary system” as a reference value. FIG. 14 is a diagram forexplaining the method for protecting the primary system of theinterference margin iterative allocation type. For example, in theinterference margin iterative allocation type, each of the communicationdevices 20 stores desired transmission power information in the storageunit 22. The desired transmission power information is information ontransmission power requested from the communication device 20 to thecommunication control device 40, as information on transmission powerrequired for transmitting radio waves. In the example of FIG. 14, eachof the communication devices 20 ₁ to 20 ₄ holds desired transmissionpower information A to D. On the basis of the desired transmission powerinformation A to D, the communication control device 40 allocatesinterference amounts A to D to each of the communication devices 20 ₁ to20 ₄.

5. EXPLANATION OF VARIOUS PROCEDURES

Next, various procedures that may occur between the entities of thecommunication system 2 will be described.

5-1. Registration Procedure

The registration procedure is a procedure of registering deviceparameters relating to the communication device 20 in the communicationcontrol device 40. Typically, the registration procedure begins when oneor more communication systems including the communication device 20 orthe communication devices 20 notify the communication control device 40of a registration request including the above-mentioned deviceparameters.

Details of Required Parameters

For example, the device parameters are the following information:

Information specific to the communication device

Position information

Antenna information

Wireless interface information

Legal information

Provider information

In practice, information other than the above may also be used as thedevice parameters.

The information specific to the communication device is informationcapable of specifying the communication device 20, information onhardware of the communication device 20, and the like. For example, theinformation specific to the communication device includes a serialnumber, a product number, and the like.

The information capable of specifying the communication device 20indicates information on the user of the communication device, a serialnumber of the communication device, and the like. For example, theinformation on the user of the communication device may be a user ID, acall sign, and the like. The user ID may be uniquely generated by theuser of the communication device, or may be issued in advance by thecommunication control device 40.

For example, the information on hardware of the communication device 20may include transmission power class information, manufacturerinformation, and the like. For example, in the FCC Code of FederalRegulations (C.F.R.) Part 96, two classes of Category A and Category Bare specified, and one of the information may be included in thetransmission power class information. In 3GPP TS 36.104 and TS 38.104,classes of eNodeB and gNodeB are defined, and may also be used.

For example, the information on software of the communication device 20may include version information, a build number, and the like relatingto an execution program in which processes required for interacting withthe communication control device 40 is described. The information mayalso include version information, a build number, and the like of thesoftware to operate as the communication device 20.

Typically, the information on position is information capable ofspecifying the geographic position of the communication device 20. Forexample, the information on position is coordinate information obtainedby the positioning function such as a Global Positioning System (GPS),Beidou, a Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), Galileo, and an AssistedGlobal Positioning System (A-GPS). Typically, the information mayinclude information on latitude, longitude, altitude, and a positioningerror. For example, the information may also be position informationregistered in an information management device managed by the NationalRegulatory Authority (NRA) or its entrusted institution. For example,the information may also be the coordinates of X-axis, Y-axis, andZ-axis using a specific geographic position as the original point. Anidentifier indicating the outdoor/indoor may also be added with suchcoordinate information.

The information on position may also be information indicating an areawhere the communication device 20 is located. For example, theinformation on position may also be information defined by theadministration such as zip codes and addresses. For example, an area maybe indicated by a set of three or more geographical coordinates. Theinformation indicating the area may also be provided with the coordinateinformation described above.

When the communication device 20 is located indoor, informationindicating the floors of the building may also be added to theinformation on position. For example, an identifier indicating thenumber of floors, or above ground or underground may also be added. Forexample, information further indicating an indoor closed space such as aroom number and a room name in the building may also be added.

Typically, the positioning function described above is preferablyincluded in the communication device 20. However, depending on theperformance of the positioning function and the installation position,the position information that meets the required accuracy may not alwaysbe obtained. Thus, the positioning function may also be used by theprovider. In such a case, it is preferable that the position informationmeasured by the provider is written in the communication device 20.

Typically, the antenna information is information indicating theperformance and configuration of the antenna included in thecommunication device 20. Typically, for example, the antenna informationmay include information such as an antenna installation height, tiltangle (down tilt), azimuth in the horizontal direction, boresight,antenna peak gain, and antenna model.

The antenna information may also include information on formable beam.For example, the antenna information may include information such as abeam width, a beam pattern, and analog/digital beamforming capabilities.

The antenna information may also include information on the performanceand configuration of multiple input multiple output (MIMO)communication. For example, the antenna information may also includeinformation such as the number of antenna elements, and the number ofmaximum spatial streams. The antenna information may also includecodebook information to be used; weight matrix information; unitarymatrix obtained by the singular value decomposition (SVD), eigen valuedecomposition (EVD), block diagonalization (BD), and the like;zero-forcing (ZF) matrix; minimum mean square error (MMSE) matrix; andthe like. When a maximum likelihood detection (MLD) requiring nonlinearoperation is included, information thereof may also be included.

The antenna information described above may also include Zenith ofDirection, Departure (ZoD). The ZoD is a kind of a radio wave arrivalangle. The ZoD described above may be estimated by another communicationdevice 20, on the basis of radio waves emitted from the antenna of thecommunication device 20. In this case, the communication device 20 maybe a terminal device that operates as a base station or an access point,a device that performs D2D communication, a moving relay base station,or the like. The ZoD may be estimated by a radio wave arrival directionestimation technology such as a multiple signal classification (MUSIC)or estimation of signal propagation via rotation invariance techniques(ESPRIT). The ZoD may be used by the communication control device 40 asmeasurement information.

Typically, the wireless interface information is information indicatingthe wireless interface technology of the communication device 20. Forexample, the wireless interface information may include identifierinformation indicating technologies used in the Global System for MobileCommunication (GSM) (registered trademark), CDMA2000, Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS), Evolved Universal Terrestrial RadioAccess (E-UTRA), 5G NR, or the next generation cellular system;derivative technologies based on LTE such as MulteFire andLTE-Unlicensed (LTE-U); and standard technologies such as a metropolitanarea network (MAN) including WiMAX and WiMAX2+, and IEEE 802.11 wirelessLAN. The version number and the release number of the technicalspecification used to specify the above may also be included. Thewireless interface information may not necessarily be a standardtechnology, and may also include information indicating a proprietarywireless technology.

The wireless interface information may also include frequency bandinformation supported by the communication device 20. For example, thewireless interface information may be expressed by one or morecombinations of the upper limit frequency and the lower limit frequency,one or more combinations of the center frequency and bandwidth, one ormore 3GPP operating band numbers, and the like.

The frequency band information supported by the communication device 20may also include capability information such as carrier aggregation (CA)and channel bonding. For example, the frequency band information mayalso include band information that can be combined. The carrieraggregation may also include information on the band to be used as aprimary component carrier (PCC) and a secondary component carrier (SCC).The carrier aggregation may also include the number of CCs that can beaggregated at the same time.

The frequency band information supported by the communication device 20may also include information indicating the radio wave access prioritysuch as PAL and GAA.

The wireless interface information may also include modulation schemeinformation supported by the communication device 20. As a typicalexample, there are information indicating a primary modulation schemesuch as frequency shift keying (FSK), n-value phase shift keying (PSK)(n is 2, 4, 8, or the like), and n-value quadrature amplitude modulation(QAM) (n is 4, 16, 64, 256, or the like); and information indicating asecondary modulation scheme such as orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplexing (OFDM), discrete Fourier transform (DFT) spread OFDM(DFT-s-OFDM), and a filter bank multi-carrier (FBMC).

The wireless interface information may also include information on errorcorrection codes. For example, the wireless interface information mayinclude capabilities such as turbo codes, low density parity check(LDPC) codes, and polar codes, and code rate information to be used.

In another aspect, the modulation scheme information and the informationon error correction codes may also be represented by a Modulation andCoding Scheme (MCS) index.

The wireless interface information may also include informationindicating the function specific to the radio technologies supported bythe communication device 20. As a typical example, there is transmissionmode (TM) information defined in LTE. The wireless interface informationmay also include information including two or more modes on a specificfunction such as the TM described above. The technical specification mayalso include information on functions not required for thespecification, if the communication device 20 is supporting thefunctions, even though two or more modes are not present.

The wireless interface information may also include radio accesstechnology (RAT) information supported by the communication device 20.For example, the wireless interface information may include informationindicating orthogonal multiple access (OMA) such as time divisionmultiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), andorthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA); non-orthogonalmultiple access (NOMA) such as power division multiple access (PDMA) (atypical example includes a technique implemented by a combination ofsuperposition coding (SPC) and successive interference canceller (SIC)),code division multiple access (CDMA), sparse code multiple access(SCMA), interleaver division multiple access (IDMA), and spatialdivision multiple access (SDMA); opportunistic access such as carriersense multiple access/collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) and carrier sensemultiple access/collision detection (CSMA/CD); and the like.

The wireless interface information may also include information on aduplex mode supported by the communication device 20. As a typicalexample, there are a frequency division duplex (FDD), a time divisionduplex (TDD), and a full duplex (FD). When the TDD is included as thewireless interface information, TDD frame configuration informationused/supported by the communication device 20 may be added. Moreover,information on a duplex mode may also be included for each frequencyband indicated in the frequency band information described above.

The wireless interface information may also include information on atransmission diversity technique supported by the communication device20. For example, the wireless interface information may include spacetime coding (STC) and the like.

The wireless interface information may also include guard bandinformation. For example, the wireless interface information may includeinformation on a guard band size defined in the standard. For example,the wireless interface information may also include information on theguard band size desired by the communication device 20.

Typically, the legal information is information on the regulation withwhich the communication device 20 must comply, and that is defined bythe radio wave administration or an equivalent administration of thecountry or region, and authentication information obtained by thecommunication device 20. Typically, for example, the information on theregulation described above may include information on the upper limitvalue of out-of-band radiation, information on the blockingcharacteristics of a receiver, and the like. Typically, for example, theauthentication information described above may include type approvalinformation (such as FCC ID, and technical conformity certification),regulation control information (for example, the FCC rule numbers, theETSI harmonized standard numbers, and the like), which will bereferences for acquiring the authentication.

The information on numerical values in the legal information may besubstituted by those defined in the specification of wireless interfacetechnology. For example, the upper limit value of the out-of-bandradiation may be derived by using an adjacent channel leakage ratio(ACLR), instead of using the upper limit value information of theout-of-band radiation. Moreover, the ACLR itself may be used accordingto the needs. Adjacent channel selectivity (ACS) may also be usedinstead of the blocking characteristics. What has been described abovemay also be combined, or an adjacent channel interference ratio (ACIR)may be used.

The provider information includes information capable of specifying aperson (provider) who has installed the communication device 20,information specific to the provider, and the like. For example, in NonPatent Literature 2, a certified professional installer registration ID(CPIR-ID) and CPI name are disclosed as the information capable ofspecifying the provider. Moreover, for example, mailing/contact address,email address, telephone number, public key identifier (PKI), and thelike are disclosed as the information specific to the provider. Theprovider information is not limited thereto, and other information onthe provider may also be included according to the needs.

Addition to Required Parameters

In the registration procedure, depending on the embodiment, there mayalso be a case when device parameters of the terminal device 30 arerequested to be registered in the communication control device 40, inaddition to those of the communication device 20. In such a case, theterm “communication device” in the above described Details of RequiredParameters may be replaced with the “terminal device” or an equivalentterm. The parameters specific to the “terminal device”, which are notdescribed in the above described Details of Required Parameters, mayalso be handled as required parameters during the registration. Forexample, such parameters include a user equipment (UE) category definedin 3GPP and the like.

Details of Registration Process

FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram for explaining a registration procedure.One or more communication systems including the communication device 20or the communication devices 20 generate a registration request messageusing the device parameters described above (step S11), and notifies thecommunication control device 40 of the generated message (step S12).

When the provider information is included in the device parameters, atampering prevention process and the like may be performed on theregistration request using the information. An encryption process mayalso be performed on a part or all of the information included in theregistration request. More specifically, for example, a process in whicha public key specific to the provider is shared in advance between theprovider and the communication control device 40, and the providerencrypts information using a secret key, may be performed. For example,information to be encrypted includes security sensitive information suchas position information.

For example, as disclosed in Non Patent Literature 2, the provider mayalso write the position information in the communication control device40 directly.

After receiving the registration request, the communication controldevice 40 performs a registration process of the communication device 20(step S13), and returns a registration response according to theprocessing result (step S14). If the information required forregistration is sufficient and if there is no abnormality, thecommunication control device 40 records the information in the storageunit 42, and notifies that the registration is completed normally. Ifnot, the communication control device 40 notifies that the registrationhas failed. When the registration is completed normally, thecommunication control device 40 may also assign an ID to an individualcommunication device, and notify the communication device 20 of the IDinformation by enclosing the information in the response. Typically,when the registration is failed, one or more communication systemsincluding the communication device 20 or the communication devices 20,the operator thereof (for example, a mobile network operator or anindividual), or the provider modifies the registration request, andrepeats the registration procedure until the registration is completednormally.

The registration procedure may be performed a plurality of times. Morespecifically, for example, when the position information is changed bymore than a predetermined reference due to the move, accuracyimprovement, or the like, the registration procedure may be performedagain. Typically, the predetermined reference is defined by the legalsystem. For example, in 47 C.F.R. Part 15, when the position informationof a Mode II personal/portable white space device is changed by 100meters or more, the device is required to access the database again.

5-2. Available Spectrum Query Procedure

The available spectrum query procedure is a procedure in which thecommunication system representing the communication device 20 or thecommunication devices 20 queries the communication control device 40 oninformation relating to the available spectrum. Typically, the procedurebegins when the communication system representing the communicationdevice 20 or the communication devices 20 notifies the communicationcontrol device 40 of a query request including the information capableof specifying the communication device 20.

1. Example 1

In this example, typically, the available spectrum information isinformation on spectrum that can be used safely and secondarily withoutgiving a fatal interference to the primary system at the position of thecommunication device 20. For example, when the communication device 20is installed in a secondary access prohibited area such as an exclusionzone, to protect the primary system using a frequency channel of F1, thefrequency channel of F1 is not notified to the communication device 20as an available channel.

2. Example 2

Moreover, for example, even when the communication device 20 is outsidethe secondary access prohibited area, the frequency channel is notnotified to the communication device 20 as an available channel, if itis determined that the communication device 20 may give a fatalinterference to the primary system.

3. Example 3

The available spectrum information may also include a frequency channelthat is not notified to the communication device 20 as an availablechannel, according to the conditions other than the protectionrequirements of the primary system in the case 2. More specifically, forexample, to prevent interference that may generate between thecommunication devices 20 in advance, the frequency channel used byanother communication device 20, which is located in the vicinity of thecommunication device 20, may not be notified to the communication device20 as an available channel.

4. Example 4

Even when a situation corresponds to these cases (Example 2 and Example3) described above, it is possible to notify the communication device 20of the frequency the same as that of the primary system or that of thecommunication device 20 in the vicinity as an available channel. In sucha case, typically, the maximum available transmission power informationis included in the available spectrum information. Typically, themaximum available transmission power is expressed by the equivalentisotropic radiated power (EIRP). However, it is not limited thereto, andfor example, the maximum available transmission power may also beprovided by a combination of conducted power and antenna gain. Thefeeder loss may also be included. In the antenna gain, an available peakgain may also be set for each spatial direction.

Details of Required Parameters

For example, the information capable of specifying the communicationdevice 20 may be information specific to the communication deviceregistered during the registration procedure described above, and the IDinformation explained in Details of Registration Process describedabove.

The query request may also include query requirement information. Forexample, the query requirement information may also include informationindicating the frequency band the availability of which the user wishesto know. For example, the query requirement information may also includetransmission power information. For example, the communication systemrepresenting the communication device 20 or the communication devices 20may also include transmission power information, when the user onlywishes to know the spectrum information with which a desiredtransmission power may be used. The query requirement information maynot necessarily be included.

The query request may also include a measurement report. The measurementreport includes results of measurements performed by the communicationdevice 20 and/or the terminal device 30. For example, the measurementreport may include processed information in addition to raw data. Forexample, standardized metrics such as a reference signal received power(RSRP), a reference signal strength indicator (RSSI), and a referencesignal received quality (RSRQ) may be used.

Details of Available Spectrum Evaluation Process

FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram for explaining an available spectrum queryprocedure. The communication system representing the communicationdevice 20 or the communication devices 20 generates a query requestincluding the information capable of specifying the communication device20 (step S21), and notifies the communication control device 40 of thegenerated request (step S22).

Upon receiving the query request, the communication control device 40evaluates the available spectrum, on the basis of the query requirementinformation (step S23). For example, as described in Example 1 toExample 3 described above, it is possible to evaluate the availablespectrum by taking into consideration the presence of the primarysystem, the secondary access prohibited area, and the communicationdevice 20 in the vicinity.

As described in Example 4 described above, the communication controldevice 40 may also derive the maximum allowable transmission powerinformation. Typically, the allowable transmission power information iscalculated using allowable interference power information of the primarysystem or the protection zone thereof, calculation reference pointinformation of the interference power level applied to the primarysystem, registration information of the communication device 20, and apropagation loss estimation model. More specifically, for example, themaximum allowable transmission power information is calculated using thefollowing formula.

P _(MaxTx(dBm)) =I _(Th(dBm)) +PL(d)_((dB))  (1)

In this example, P_(MaxTx(dBm)) is the maximum allowable transmissionpower, I_(Th(dBm)) is the allowable interference power, d is distancebetween the reference point and the communication device 20, andPL(d)_((dB)) is the propagation loss at the distance d. In the presentformula, the antenna gain of the transmitter/receptor is not explicitlyindicated. However, the antenna gain may be included according to theexpression method of the maximum allowable transmission power (EIRP,conducted power, and the like), and the reference position of thereceived power (antenna input point, antenna output point, and thelike). To compensate the variation caused by fading, a safety margin andthe like may also be included. Moreover, a feeder loss and the like mayalso be taken into account according to the needs.

The above formula is described on the assumption that the singlecommunication device 20 is the interference source. For example, in acase when the aggregated interference from the communication devices 20needs to be taken into account at the same time, a correction value maybe added. More specifically, for example, the correction value may bedetermined on the basis of three kinds of interference margin schemes(fixed/predetermined, flexible, and flexible minimized) disclosed in NonPatent Literature 3.

The formula described above is expressed in logarithms. However, inpractice, naturally, the logarithms can be converted to antilogarithms.Moreover, all log parameters disclosed in the present disclosure may beconverted to bases as appropriate.

1. Technique 1

Moreover, as explained in the paragraph of Details of RequiredParameters described above, when the transmission power information isincluded in the query requirement information, it is possible toevaluate the available spectrum using a method different from thatdescribed above. More specifically, for example, when it is assumed thata desired transmission power indicated in the transmission powerinformation is used, and when the estimated given interference amountfalls below the allowable interference power of the primary system orthe protection zone thereof, it is determined that the frequency channelis available, and the result is notified to the communication device 20.

2. Technique 2

An example of calculating the band use conditions described above isexplained on the basis of the other system relevant informationdescribed above. However, the present disclosure is not limited to theexample. For example, similar to the area in a radio environment map(REM), when the area/space where the communication device 20 can use theshared band is determined in advance, the available spectrum informationmay also be derived only on the basis of the position relevantinformation described above and the height relevant informationdescribed above. For example, when a lookup table for associating theposition, height, and available spectrum information is prepared, it ispossible to derive the available spectrum information described above,only on the basis of the position relevant information described aboveand the height relevant described above.

The available spectrum may not necessarily be evaluated only afterreceiving the query request. For example, the communication controldevice 40 may actively evaluate the available spectrum without a queryrequest, after the registration procedure described above is completednormally. In such a case, the communication control device 40 may createthe REM or the lookup table described in Technique 2, or a similarinformation table.

In any technique, evaluation may also be performed on the radio waveaccess priority such as PAL and GAA. For example, when the informationon radio wave access priority is included in the registered deviceparameters or the query requirement, it is also possible to determinewhether the spectrum can be used on the basis of the priority, andnotify the communication device 20 of the result. Moreover, for example,as disclosed in Non Patent Literature 2, when the information (referredto as a cluster list in Non Patent Literature 2) relating to thecommunication device 20 that has a high access priority (for example,PAL) is registered in the communication control device 40 by the user inadvance, the evaluation may be performed on the basis of theinformation.

After evaluating the available spectrum, the communication controldevice 40 notifies the communication device 20 of the evaluation result(step S24). The communication device 20 may also select desiredcommunication parameters, using the evaluation result received from thecommunication control device 40.

5-3. Spectrum Grant Procedure

A spectrum grant procedure is a procedure for allowing the communicationdevice 20 to receive a grant to secondarily use the spectrum from thecommunication control device 40. Typically, the procedure begins afterthe registration procedure is completed normally, and when one or morecommunication systems including the communication device 20 or thecommunication devices 20 notify the communication control device 40 of aspectrum grant request including the information capable of specifyingthe communication device 20. “After the registration procedure iscompleted normally” also means that the available spectrum queryprocedure may not necessarily be performed.

In the present invention, at least the following two schemes of thespectrum grant request may be used.

Specification Scheme

Flexible Scheme

The specification scheme is a request scheme in which the communicationdevice 20 specifies at least the frequency band and the maximumtransmission power to be used as desired communication parameters, andrequests the communication control device 40 to permit the use on thebasis of the desired communication parameters. However, the desiredcommunication parameters are not limited thereto, and the parametersspecific to the wireless interface technology (modulation scheme, duplexmode, and the like) may also be specified. Moreover, information onradio wave access priority such as PAL and GAA may also be included.

The flexible scheme is a request scheme in which the communicationdevice 20 only specifies requirements relating to the communicationparameters, and requests the communication control device 40 to specifythe communication parameters that can use the spectrum secondarily,while meeting the requirements. The requirements relating to thecommunication parameters may include bandwidth, desired maximumtransmission power, or desired minimum transmission power. However, thecommunication parameters are not limited thereto, and parametersspecific to the wireless interface technology (modulation scheme, duplexmode, and the like) may also be specified. More specifically, forexample, one or more TDD frame configurations may be selected in advanceand notified.

A measurement report may be included in either scheme. The measurementreport includes the measurement results performed by the communicationdevice 20 and/or terminal device 30. For example, the measurement reportmay include processed information in addition to raw data. For example,standardized metrics such as the reference signal received power (RSRP),the reference signal strength indicator (RSSI), and the reference signalreceived quality (RSRQ) may be used.

Details of Spectrum Grant Process

FIG. 17 is a sequence diagram for explaining the spectrum grantprocedure. One or more communication systems including the communicationdevice 20 or the communication devices 20 generate a spectrum grantrequest including the information capable of specifying thecommunication device 20 (step S31), and notifies the communicationcontrol device 40 of the generated request (step S32). The spectrumgrant request is acquired by the acquisition unit 441 of thecommunication control device 40.

After acquiring the spectrum grant request, the communication controldevice 40 performs a spectrum grant process on the basis of the spectrumgrant request scheme (step S33). For example, the communication controldevice 40 can perform the spectrum grant process by taking intoconsideration the presence of the primary system, the secondary accessprohibited area, and the communication device 20 in the vicinity, usingthe techniques described in Example 1 to Example 3 in 2.2. AvailableSpectrum Query Procedure.

When the flexible scheme is used, the communication control device 40may also derive the maximum allowable transmission power information,using the technique described in Example 4 in 2.2. Available Spectrum

Query Procedure. Typically, the communication control device 40calculates the maximum allowable transmission power using the allowableinterference power information of the primary system or the protectionzone thereof, the calculation reference point information of theinterference power level applied to the primary system, the registrationinformation of the communication device 20, and a propagation lossestimation model. For example, the communication control device 40calculates the maximum allowable transmission power using the followingformula (2).

P _(MaxTx(dBm)) =I _(Th(dBm)) +PL(d)_((db))  (2)

In this example, P_(MaxTx(dBm)) is the maximum allowable transmissionpower, I_(Th(dBm)) is the allowable interference power, d is distancebetween the reference point and the communication device 20, andPL(d)_((dB)) is the propagation loss at the distance d. In the presentformula, the antenna gain of the transmitter/receptor is not explicitlyindicated. However, the formula may be modified according to theexpression method of the maximum allowable transmission power (EIRP,conducted power, and the like) and the reference position of thereceived power (antenna input point, antenna output point, and thelike). To compensate the variation caused by fading, a safety margin andthe like may also be included. Moreover, a feeder loss and the like mayalso be taken into account according to the needs.

The above formula is described on the assumption that the singlecommunication device 20 is an interference source. For example, in acase when the aggregated interference from the communication devices 20needs to be taken into account at the same time, a correction value maybe added. More specifically, for example, the correction value may bedetermined on the basis of three kinds of schemes (fixed/predetermined,flexible, and flexible minimized) disclosed in Non Patent Literature 3.

Various models may be used for the propagation loss estimation model.When a model is specified for each usage, it is preferable to use thespecified model. For example, in Non Patent Literature 6, a propagationloss model such as extended Hata (eHATA) and an irregular terrain model(ITM) is used for each usage. Naturally, in practicing the presentinvention, the propagation loss model is not limited to these examples.

When a model is not specified in a predetermined usage, different modelsmay be used according to the needs. As a specific example, for example,an aggressive model such as a free space loss model may be used forestimating the interference power given to another communication device20, and a conservative model may be used for estimating the coverage ofthe communication device 20.

When the specification scheme is used, the spectrum grant process may beperformed using the technique described in Technique 1 in 2.2. AvailableSpectrum Query Procedure. More specifically, for example, when it isassumed that the desired transmission power indicated in thetransmission power information is used, and when the estimated giveninterference amount falls below the allowable interference power of theprimary system or the protection zone, it is determined that the use ofthe frequency channel is granted, and the result is notified to thecommunication device 20.

In any of the techniques, an evaluation may also be performed on theradio wave access priority such as PAL and GAA. For example, when theinformation on radio wave access priority is included in the registereddevice parameters or the query requirement, it is possible to determinewhether the spectrum can be used on the basis of the priority, andnotify the communication device 20 of the result. Moreover, for example,as disclosed in Non Patent Literature 2, when the information (referredto as a cluster list in Non Patent Literature 2) relating to thecommunication device 20 that has a high access priority (for example,PAL) is registered in the communication control device 40 by the user inadvance, the evaluation may be performed on the basis of theinformation.

The spectrum grant process may not necessarily be performed uponreceiving the request. For example, the communication control device 40may actively perform the spectrum grant process without a spectrum grantrequest, after the registration procedure described above is completednormally. Moreover, for example, the spectrum grant determinationprocess may be performed in a fixed cycle. In such a case, thecommunication control device 40 may create the REM or the lookup tabledescribed in Technique 2 in 2.2. Available Spectrum Query Procedure, ora similar information table.

After completing the spectrum grant process, the communication controldevice 40 notifies the communication device 20 of the determinationresult (step S34).

5-4. Spectrum Use Notification/Heartbeat

The spectrum use notification is a procedure in which the communicationsystem representing the communication device 20 or the communicationdevices 20 notifies the communication control device 40 of the spectrumuse, on the basis of the communication parameters that have becomeavailable in the spectrum grant procedure described above. Typically,the spectrum use notification begins when the communication systemrepresenting the communication device 20 or the communication devices 20notifies the communication control device 40 of a notification messageincluding the information capable of specifying the communication device20.

It is preferable that the procedure is periodically performed until theuse of spectrum is rejected by the communication control device 40. Whenthe procedure is completed normally, the communication device 20 maystart or continue radio wave transmission.

FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram for explaining the spectrum usenotification procedure. One or more communication systems including thecommunication device 20 or the communication devices 20 generate anotification message including the information capable of specifying thecommunication device 20 (step S41), and notify the communication controldevice 40 of the generated message (step S42).

After receiving the spectrum use notification, the communication controldevice 40 may also determine whether it is possible to start/continueradio wave transmission (step S43). For example, the determinationmethod includes confirmation of the spectrum use information of theprimary system. More specifically, it is possible to determine whetherto give permission to start or continue radio wave transmission, orreject radio wave transmission, on the basis of a change in the spectrumused by the primary system, a change in the spectrum use status of theprimary system (for example, shipborne radar) that uses radio waves in anon-stationary manner, and the like.

When the determination process is completed, the communication controldevice 40 notifies the communication device 20 of the determinationresult (step S44).

In the present procedure, the communication control device 40 may give acommand to reconfigure the communication parameters to the communicationdevice 20. Typically, the command may be included in the response of aspectrum use notification. For example, recommended communicationparameter information may be provided.

5-5. Addition to Various Procedures

In this example, the various procedures may not necessarily beimplemented individually as will be described below. For example, aprocedure different from the above described two procedures may also beimplemented, by using a third procedure including the roles of the twodifferent procedures as a substitute. More specifically, for example,the registration request and the available spectrum query request may beintegrally notified. Moreover, for example, the spectrum grant procedureand the spectrum use notification may be integrally performed.Naturally, the combinations are not limited thereto, and three or morerequests may also be combined. Moreover, the above procedures may alsobe performed separately.

The expression of “acquire information” or an equivalent expression inthe present specification does not literally mean to acquire informationas in the procedure described above. For example, the positioninformation of the communication device 20 is used in the availablespectrum evaluation process. However, there is no need to use theinformation acquired in the registration procedure, and when theposition information is included in the available spectrum queryprocedure request, the position information may also be used. In otherwords, the described parameters may be included in the other procedure,within the scope of the present specification, and within the scope oftechnical feasibility.

The information included in the response sent from the communicationcontrol device 40 to the communication device 20 indicated in theprocedure described above, may also be sent by push notification. As aspecific example, available spectrum information, recommendedcommunication parameter information, radio wave transmissioncontinuation rejection notification, and the like may be sent by pushnotification.

5-6. Various Procedures Relating to Terminal Device

Basically, the procedures described in 5-1 to 5-4 may also be used forthe terminal device 30. However, unlike the communication device 20, theterminal device 30 has a mobility. In other words, the positioninformation is dynamically updated. Some legislations require theterminal device 30 to re-register to the communication control device40, when the position information is changed for a certain number oftimes or more. Consequently, in the UK, the Office of Communications(Ofcom) specifies the following two communication parameters asoperation modes (see Non Patent Literature 4).

Specific Operational Parameters

Generic Operational Parameters

In the Non Patent Literature, the specific operational parameters aredefined as “operational parameters specific to a particular slave whitespace device (WSD)”. In other words, the specific operational parametersare communication parameters calculated using the device parameters ofthe slave WSD corresponding to the terminal device 30.Characteristically, the specific operational parameters are calculatedby the white space database (WSDB) using the position information of theslave WSD.

From such characteristics, it is assumed that the specific operationalparameters are suitable for the terminal device 30 that has a lowmobility or that is installed in a fixed manner.

In the Non Patent Literature, the generic operational parameters aredefined as “operational parameters that can be used by any slave WSDwithin the coverage area of a given master WSD (corresponds tocommunication device 20)”. Characteristically, the generic operationalparameters are calculated by the WSDB without using the positioninformation of the slave WSD.

From these characteristics, it is assumed that the generic operationalparameters are suitable for the terminal device 30 that has a highmobility.

The information for the terminal device 30 may be provided by unicast orbroadcast from the communication device 20. For example, a broadcastsignal such as a contact verification signal (CVS) defined in the FCCrules Part 15 Subpart H may be used. The information may also beprovided by a broadcast signal specific to the wireless interface. Morespecifically, for example, the information may be provided by a physicalbroadcast channel (PBCH), an NR-PBCH, and the like used in LTE and 5GNR.

5-7. Procedures Generated Between Communication Control Devices

Information Exchange

The communication control device 40 can exchange management informationwith another communication control device 40. FIG. 19 is a sequencediagram for explaining an exchanging procedure of managementinformation. In the example of FIG. 19, the communication control device40 ₁ and the communication control device 40 ₂ are exchanginginformation.

In the exchanging procedure of management information, it is preferablethat at least the following information are exchanged.

Communication device registration information

Communication device communication parameter information

Area information

Typically, the communication device registration information is deviceparameters of the communication device 20 registered in thecommunication control device 40 in the registration procedure describedabove. There is no need to exchange all registered information. Forexample, information that may correspond to personal information neednot be exchanged. Moreover, encrypted and/or ambiguous information maybe exchanged when communication device registration information isexchanged. For example, information converted into a binary value andinformation signed using an electronic signature system may also beexchanged.

Typically, the communication device communication parameter informationis information on communication parameters currently used by thecommunication device 20. It is preferable that the communication devicecommunication parameter information at least includes informationindicating the used spectrum and the transmission power. The othercommunication parameters may also be included.

Typically, the area information is information indicating apredetermined geographical region. Area information of variousattributes may be included in the area information in various forms.

For example, the area information may include protection areainformation of the communication device 20, which will be a highpriority secondary system, such as a PAL protection area (PPA) disclosedin Non Patent Literature 5. In this case, for example, the areainformation may be expressed by three or more sets of geographicposition coordinates. Moreover, for example, when the communicationcontrol devices 40 can refer to a common external database, the areainformation may be expressed by ID indicating the information.

Moreover, for example, the area information may also include informationindicating the coverage of the communication device 20. In this casealso, for example, the area information may be expressed by three ormore sets of geographic position coordinates. Moreover, for example, thearea information may also be expressed by assuming a circle originatingfrom the geographic position of the communication device 20, and usingthe information indicating the radius size. Furthermore, for example,when the communication control devices 40 can refer to the commonexternal database, the area information may be expressed by IDindicating the information.

Still furthermore, in another aspect, the area information may alsoinclude information on an area section defined in advance by theadministration and the like. More specifically, for example, a certainarea can be specified by address. For example, a license area and thelike may also be expressed similarly.

Still furthermore, in still another aspect, the area information may notalways express a planar area, and may also express a three-dimensionalspace. For example, the area information may be expressed by a spatialcoordinate system. For example, information indicating a predeterminedclosed space such as the number of floors, the floor number, and theroom number of the building may also be used.

These types of information may be exchanged using various schemes. Thefollowings are examples of the schemes.

ID specification scheme

Period specification scheme

Area specification scheme

Dump scheme

The ID specification scheme is a scheme for acquiring informationcorresponding to an ID assigned in advance to specify the informationmanaged by the communication control device 40, using the ID describedabove. For example, it is assumed that the communication control device40 ₁ is managing the communication device 20 referred to as ID:AAA. Inthis example, the communication control device 40 ₂ performs aninformation acquisition request by specifying ID:AAA to thecommunication control device 40 ₁. Upon receiving the request, thecommunication control device 40 ₁ searches the information on ID:AAA,and notifies the communication control device 40 ₂ of the correspondingregistration information and communication parameter information of thecorresponding communication device 20 in the response.

In the period specification scheme, a specific period is specified, andinformation that meets predetermined conditions may be exchanged duringthe period.

For example, the predetermined conditions include the presence ofupdated information. For example, when acquisition of communicationdevice information during a specific period is specified in a request,possible information to be notified in a response includes theregistration information of a communication device 20 newly registeredduring the period, and the registration information and communicationparameter information of a communication device 20 having an informationparameter changed during that period.

For example, the predetermined conditions include whether thecommunication control device 40 is recording. For example, whenacquisition of communication control information during a specificperiod is specified in a request, the registration information andcommunication parameter information of the communication device 20recorded by the communication control device 40 during the period may benotified in the response. Moreover, the latest information during theperiod may be notified. The update history may also be notified for eachinformation.

In the area specification scheme, a specific area is specified, andinformation belonging to the area are exchanged. For example, whenacquisition of communication device information in a specific area isspecified in a request, the registration information and communicationparameter information of the communication device 20 installed in thearea may be notified in the response.

The dump scheme is a scheme for providing all information recorded inthe communication control device 40. It is preferable that at least theinformation on the communication device 20 and the area information areprovided by the dump scheme.

The information has been exchanged between the communication controldevices 40 all based on a pull scheme. In other words, the informationcorresponding to the parameters specified in a request is included inthe response, and for example, the information exchange may beimplemented using an HTTP GET method. However, the information may notalways be provided by the pull scheme, and the information may also beactively provided to the other communication control device 40 using apush scheme. For example, the push scheme may be implemented using anHTTP POST method.

Command/Request Procedures

The communication control devices 40 may also send commands and requeststo one another. More specifically, for example, there is areconfiguration of communication parameters of the communication device20. For example, when it is determined that the communication device 20₁ managed by the communication control device 40 ₁ is receiving a largeamount of interference from the communication device 20 ₄ managed by thecommunication control device 40 ₂, the communication control device 40 ₁may request the communication control device 40 ₂ to change thecommunication parameters of the communication device 20 ₄.

As another example, there is a reconfiguration of area information. Forexample, if there is a mistake in the calculation of the coverageinformation and protection zone information on the communication device20 ₄ managed by the communication control device 40 ₂, the communicationcontrol device 40 ₁ may request the communication control device 40 ₂ toreconfigure the area information. In addition to the above, a requestfor reconfiguring the area information may be sent for various reasons.

6. OPERATION OF PROTECTING PRIMARY SYSTEM

Next, an operation of protecting the primary system of the communicationsystem 2 (secondary system) will be described.

In the present embodiment, the following three processes are consideredimportant.

1. Grouping of communication device to be calculated to protect theprimary system

2. Allocation of interference margin to each group

3. Calculation of maximum allowable transmission power based on a methodassociated with the group

In this example, the “communication device to be calculated to protectthe primary system” typically refers to the communication device 20 thecommunication parameters (frequency channel, transmission power, and thelike) of which are determined, by taking into consideration theinterference given to the primary system. Various references may be usedto specify such communication devices 20.

More specifically, for example, the following references may be applied.

Reference 1. A separation distance between an estimated receivedinterference reference point of the primary system and the communicationdevice 20

Reference 2. An inclusion relation of a geographic position of thecommunication device 20 with respect to an area defined in advance inassociation with the primary system

Reference 3. An estimated given interference amount of the communicationdevice 20 at the estimated received interference reference point of theprimary system

In the following explanation, the communication device 20 specified asthe communication device to be calculated to protect the primary system,is referred to as a target communication device.

6-1. Communication Control Process

First, a communication control process executed by the communicationsystem 2 will be described. The communication control process is aprocess on radio wave transmission carried out by one or morecommunication devices 20 (secondary system) that perform a wirelesscommunication using radio waves in the frequency band used by one ormore communication systems 1 (primary system).

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a communicationcontrol process according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

Grouping of Target Communication Device

First, the classification unit 442 of the communication control device40 performs grouping of target communication device, on the basis of a“spectrum grant procedure format” executed by the target communicationdevice (step S61). In the present invention, at least two schemes of 1.Specification scheme and 2. Flexible scheme are assumed as the “spectrumgrant procedure format”. Thus, in the present step, the targetcommunication device will be classified into at least one of a“specification scheme group” and a “flexible scheme group”.

The communication control device 40 associates a predetermined methodfor protecting the primary system with a plurality of groups.

For example, the “specification scheme group” is associated with themethod for protecting the primary system of the “interference marginiterative allocation type”. The method for protecting the primary systemof the interference margin iterative allocation type is represented byan iterative allocation process (IAP) disclosed in Non Patent Literature6. The communication device 20 in the “specification scheme group”notifies the communication control device 40 of desired transmissionpower information. Thus, it is preferable that a value equivalent to thedesired transmission power or a value close to the desired transmissionpower as much as possible be permitted. Consequently, to reach the goal,it is useful to associate the “specification scheme group” with the“interference margin iterative allocation type”.

The “flexible scheme group” is associated with the method for protectingthe primary system of the “interference margin batch allocation type”.The method for protecting the primary system of the interference marginbatch allocation type is represented by three kinds of schemes(fixed/predetermined, flexible, and flexible minimized) disclosed in NonPatent Literature 3. Unlike the communication device 20 belonging to the“specification scheme group”, the communication device 20 belonging tothe “flexible scheme group” does not notify the communication controldevice 40 of a desired transmission power. Consequently, it is notuseful to apply the method of the “interference margin iterativeallocation type” to the “flexible scheme group”. On the other hand, the“interference margin batch allocation type” determines the maximumallowable transmission power by setting a reference value of the maximumallowable transmission power on the basis of the geographic positioninformation of the target communication device, and by applying atransmission power margin value calculated using a predetermined method.Thus, it is suitable to apply the “interference margin batch allocationtype” to the “flexible scheme group”.

Details will be added using the method in Non Patent Literature 3 as anexample. In this example, the transmission power margin value describedabove is substantially equivalent to the “interference margin”.Referring to the above formula (2), it is possible to considerP_(MaxTx(dBm)) as the reference value of the maximum allowabletransmission power described above.

P _(MaxTx(dBm)) =I _(Th(dBm)) +PL(d)_((db))  (3)

A correction value may be determined on the basis of the three kinds ofschemes (fixed/predetermined, flexible, and flexible minimized)disclosed in Non Patent Literature 3. In this process, the maximumallowable transmission power may be expressed as the following:

P′ _(MaxTx(dBm)) =P _(MaxTx(dBm))−α_((dBm))  (4)

In the formula, the left side is the maximum allowable transmissionpower, and α_((dBm)) in the right side is the transmission power margin.This formula may be modified as follows.

P′ _(MaxTx(dBm)) =P _(MaxTx(dBm))−α_((dBm)) =I _(Th(dBm)) +PL(d)_((dB))

P′ _(MaxTx(dBm)) −I _(Th(dBm))−α_((dBm)) +PL(d)_((dB))

P′ _(MaxTx(dBm)) =I _(Th(dBm)) +PL(d)_((dB))  (5)

In this example, it is I′_(Th(dBm))=I_(Th(dBm))−α_((dBm)). In otherwords, this is equivalent to allocating a predetermined amount of thetotal allowable interference amount I_(Th(dBm)) to a plurality of thetarget communication devices.

When there are more “spectrum grant procedure formats”, the types ofgroups may be increased. In this case, it is preferable that there is amethod for protecting the primary system corresponding to the group.However, when the method is either the “interference margin iterativeallocation type” or the “interference margin batch allocation type”, thegroup may be handled the same as the “specification scheme group” or the“flexible scheme group” in the subsequent processes.

Temporary Allocation of Interference Margin to Each Group

Next, the calculation unit 443 of the communication control device 40temporarily allocates the interference margin to each group (step S62).In the following explanation, an interference margin temporarilyallocated to the “specification scheme group” is expressed asI_(Fixed(dBm)) and an interference margin temporarily allocated to the“flexible scheme group” is expressed as I_(Flexible(dBm)).

Temporary Allocation of Interference Margin to Each Group

After temporary allocating the interference margin to each group, thecalculation unit 443 of the communication control device 40 calculatesthe communication parameter (for example, maximum allowable transmissionpower) of the target communication device (step S63). In the followingexplanation, it is assumed that the communication control device 40calculates the maximum allowable transmission power as the communicationparameter. The calculation process of the maximum allowable transmissionpower may include the following three processes (first example to thirdexample).

6-2. Maximum Allowable Transmission Power Calculation Process (FirstExample)

Firstly, the first example will be described. In the first example, thecommunication control device 40 first calculates the maximum allowabletransmission power of the target communication device in the flexiblescheme group, and then calculates the maximum allowable transmissionpower of the target communication device in the specification schemegroup. FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the maximumallowable transmission power calculation process according to theembodiment of the present disclosure.

The calculation unit 443 of the communication control device 40calculates the maximum allowable transmission power of the targetcommunication device in the flexible scheme group (step S631 a). Asdescribed above, the technique of the “interference margin batchallocation type” associated with the flexible scheme group is used forthe calculation method. For example, the calculation unit 443 uses acalculation technique of the maximum allowable EIRP disclosed in NonPatent Literature 3 and the like. In the following explanation, themaximum allowable transmission power calculated for the predeterminedtarget communication device is referred to as P′_(MaxTx,i(dBm)) (i is anindex number of the target communication device).

In the present embodiment, after calculating the maximum allowabletransmission power P′_(MaxTx,i(dBm)), the calculation unit 443calculates a leftover margin I_(Leftover,i(dBm)). In this example, theleftover margin is a leftover of the allocated interference margingenerated by constraints on the target communication device and thelike.

Generation Factor 1 of Leftover Margin

More specifically, for example, the generation factor of the leftovermargin includes a transmission power limit value(P_(MaxTxLimit,i (dBm))) due to the hardware constraints of the targetcommunication device. When the transmission power limit value is lowerthan the above-mentioned maximum allowable transmission power (in otherwords, P_(MaxTxLimit,i(dBm))<P′_(MaxTx,i(dBm))), the interference powergiven to the primary system from the target communication device becomessmaller than the value (I′_(Th(dBm))=I_(Th(dBm))−α_((dBm)) in formula(5)) used for calculating P′_(MaxTx,i(dBm)).

Generation Factor 2 of Leftover Margin

For example, the other generation factor includes a transmission powerlimit value due to a transmission power class that is legally defined.For example, in the FCC rules Part 96, two types of communication deviceclasses (Category A/Category B) are defined, and the maximum equivalentisotropic radiated power (EIRP) of the Category A and the Category B aredefined as 30 dBm/10 MHz and 47 dBm/10 MHz, respectively. Similarly,when the transmission power limit value resulting from the above islower than the above-mentioned maximum allowable transmission power (inother words, P_(MaxTxLimit,i(dBm))<P′_(MaxTx,i(dBm))), the interferencepower given to the primary system from the target communication devicewill become smaller than the value (I′_(Th(dBm))=I_(Th(dBm))−α_((dBm))of the formula (5)) used for calculating P′_(MaxTx,i(dBm)).

Generation Factor 3 of Leftover Margin

Moreover, for example, as one of the hardware constraints of the targetcommunication device, there may be a step size according to thetransmission power adjustment. However, the maximum allowabletransmission power described above may not be included in the adjustabletransmission power value of the target communication device. In such acase, one of the adjustable transmission power values equal to or lessthan the maximum allowable transmission power described above (typicallymaximum value) will be selected. Thus, the leftover margin similar tothe above may be generated.

Generation Factor 4 of Leftover Margin

Moreover, for example, a range of required transmission power (minimumvalue and/or maximum value) may be provided, as one of the parameters ofthe spectrum grant request of the “flexible scheme”. In such a case, inparticular, when the maximum value is indicated, the leftover marginsimilar to the above may be generated.

The leftover margin I_(Leftover,i(dBm)) generated by the factorrepresented above may be expressed as the following.

$\begin{matrix}{{Calculation}\mspace{14mu} 1} & \; \\{I_{{leftover},{i{({dBm})}}} = {{10\;{\log( {10^{\frac{P_{{MaxTx}{({dBm})}}^{\prime}}{10}} - 10^{\frac{P_{{MaxTxLimit},{i{({dBm})}}}}{10}}} )}} - {{PL}(d)}_{({dB})}}} & (6)\end{matrix}$

The derivation process is as follows:

I′ _(Th(dBm)) =P′ _(MaxTx(dBm)) −PL(d)_((dB))  (7)

Moreover, when the transmission power is P_(MaxTxLimit,i(dBm)) and thegiven interference power is I_(Limit(dBm)), it is

I _(Limit(dBm)) =P _(MaxTxLimit,i(dBm)) −PL(d)_((dB))  (8)

The formula (7) and formula (8) are expressed in antilogarithms, andboth sides are subtracted from each other.

$\begin{matrix}{{Calculation}\mspace{14mu} 2} & \; \\{{10^{\frac{I_{{Th}{({dBm})}}^{\prime}}{10}} - 10^{\frac{I_{{Limit}{({dBm})}}}{10}}} = {10^{\frac{P_{{MaxTx}{({dBm})}}^{\prime} - {{PL}{(d)}}_{({dB})}}{10}} - 10^{\frac{P_{{MaxTxLimit},{i{({dBm})}}} - {{PL}{(d)}}_{({dB})}}{10}}}} & (9)\end{matrix}$

Then, both sides are reconverted to logarithms.

Calculation  3 $\begin{matrix}\begin{matrix}{I_{{leftover},{i{({dBm})}}} = {10\;{\log( {10^{\frac{I_{{Th}{({dBm})}}^{\prime}}{10}} - 10^{\frac{I_{{Limit}{({dBm})}}}{10}}} )}}} \\{= {10\;{\log( {10^{\frac{P_{{MaxTx}{({dBm})}}^{\prime} - {{PL}{(d)}}_{({dB})}}{10}} -} }}} \\ 10^{\frac{P_{{MaxTxLimit},{i{({dBm})}}} - {{PL}{(d)}}_{({dB})}}{10}} ) \\{= {10\;{\log( {( {10^{\frac{P_{{MaxTx}{({dBm})}}^{\prime}}{10}} - 10^{\frac{P_{{MaxTxLimit},{i{({dBm})}}}}{10}}} ) \cdot} }}} \\ 10^{\frac{{- {PL}}{(d)}_{({dB})}}{10}} ) \\{{10\;{\log( {10^{\frac{P_{{MaxTx}{({dBm})}}^{\prime}}{10}} - 10^{\frac{P_{{MaxTxLimit},{i{({dBm})}}}}{10}}} )}} - {{PL}(d)}_{({dB})}}\end{matrix} & (3)\end{matrix}$

In this manner, the formula (6) described above is derived. As describedabove, the communication control device 40 calculates the leftovermargin of all target communication devices.

In the present embodiment, the leftover margin described above is givento the target communication device of the “specification scheme group”.In other words, the temporary interference margin I_(Fixed(dBm))allocated to the specification scheme group is modified as follows:

Calculation 4

I _(Fixed,modified(dBm))=10 log(I _(fixed)+Σ_(i=0) ^(N−1) I_(leftoverj))  (11)

The calculation unit 443 of the communication control device 40allocates the temporary interference margin modified in this manner, tothe target communication devices in the specification scheme group (stepS632 a). As described above, the technique of the “interference marginiterative allocation type” associated with the specification schemegroup is used for the calculation method. For example, the communicationcontrol device 40 uses the iterative allocation process (IAP) disclosedin Non Patent Literature 6 and the like.

When the allocation is completed, the communication control device 40finishes the process.

The communication device 20 classified into the flexible scheme grouponly includes the requirements relating to the communication parametersin the spectrum grant request. Thus, in the flexible scheme group, theleftover margin may be generated by the factors (generation factors 1 to4 of the leftover margin) described above. On the other hand, in thefixed scheme group, the desired maximum transmission power and thespectrum are specified by the communication device 20. Thus, it isconsidered that the leftover margin is hardly generated in the fixedscheme group. In the first example, the communication control device 40first calculates the maximum allowable transmission power of theflexible scheme group. Thus, the communication control device 40 cangive the leftover margin generated in the flexible scheme group to thespecification scheme group. Consequently, the communication controldevice 40 can achieve efficient utilization of radio wave resources.

6-3. Maximum Allowable Transmission Power Calculation Process (SecondExample)

Next, a second example will be described. In the second example, thecommunication control device 40 first calculates the maximum allowabletransmission power of the target communication device in thespecification scheme group, and then calculates the maximum allowabletransmission power of the target communication device in the flexiblescheme group. FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating another example of themaximum allowable transmission power calculation process according tothe embodiment of the present disclosure.

First, the calculation unit 443 of the communication control device 40calculates the maximum allowable transmission power of the targetcommunication device in the specification scheme group (step S631 b).Then, as described above, the technique of the “interference marginiterative allocation type” associated with the specification schemegroup is used for the calculation method.

For example, when the number of target communication devices is small,the leftover margin may also be generated in the specification schemegroup. The communication control device 40 calculates the leftovermargin, and gives the leftover margin described above to the targetcommunication device of the “flexible scheme group”. In other words, thetemporary interference margin I_(Flexible(dBm)) allocated to theflexible group is modified on the basis of the leftover margin.

The calculation unit 443 of the communication control device 40allocates the modified temporary interference margin to the targetcommunication devices in the flexible scheme group (step S632 c). Asdescribed above, the technique of the “interference margin batchallocation type” associated with the flexible scheme group is used forthe calculation method. After the allocation is completed, thecommunication control device 40 finishes the process.

In the second example, the communication control device 40 firstcalculates the specification scheme group. Consequently, it is possibleto give the leftover margin generated in the specification scheme groupto the flexible scheme group. As a result, the communication controldevice 40 can achieve efficient utilization of radio wave resources.

6-4. Maximum Allowable Transmission Power Calculation Process (ThirdExample)

Next, the second example will be described. In the third example, thecommunication control device 40 determines which of the specificationscheme group and the flexible scheme group to be calculated first, basedon predetermined criteria. FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating anotherexample of the maximum allowable transmission power calculation processaccording to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

The determination unit 444 of the communication control device 40determines the group order to calculate the communication parameters(step S631 c). For example, the communication control device 40determines the calculation order of the groups (for example, selectionof calculation procedure). Various criteria may be used to make thedetermination. The following are examples of selection criteria.

Criterion 1. Comparison of Number of Communication Devices in Group

The communication control device 40 first calculates the maximumallowable transmission power of the group with a smaller number oftarget communication devices. The leftover margin is likely to generatein the group with a smaller number of target communication devices.Thus, the group with a greater number of target communication devicescan use more interference margins.

Criterion 2. Comparison of Installation Density of Communication Devicesin Group

The communication control device 40 first calculates the group in whichthe communication devices are more densely installed. When thecommunication devices are more densely installed, the interferencebetween the communication devices in the group is likely to increase,and the transmission power may be further reduced from the maximumallowable transmission power. In such a case, the leftover margin isgenerated, and it is possible to allocate the leftover margin to thegroup in which the communication devices are less densely installed.

Criterion 3. Comparison of Number of Communication Devices in Group, andDistance from Protection Point (or Protection Area) of System to beProtected (1)

For example, the communication control device 40 provides a thresholdseparation distance, and counts the number of communication devices inthe flexible group located at a distance larger than the thresholdseparation distance. When the number is greater than a predeterminedthreshold, the communication control device 40 first calculates themaximum allowable transmission power of the flexible group. Inparticular, in the flexible scheme, when the distance from thecommunication device is increased for a predetermined distance or more,the calculation result of the maximum transmission power is likely toexceed the upper limit of the maximum transmission power of thehardware, and as a result, more leftover margins may be generated.

Criterion 4. Comparison of Number of Communication Devices in Group, andDistance from Protection Point (or Protection Area) of System to beProtected (2)

For example, the communication control device 40 provides a thresholdseparation distance, and counts the number of communication devices inthe specification scheme group located at a distance smaller than thethreshold separation distance. When the number is greater than apredetermined threshold, the communication control device 40 firstcalculates the maximum allowable transmission power of the specificationscheme group. In particular, in the specification scheme, when thedistance from the communication devices is a predetermined distance orsmaller, the calculation result of the maximum transmission power islikely to fall below the desired maximum transmission power, and as aresult, more leftover margins may be generated.

Criterion 5. Comparison of Number of Communication Devices in Group, andDistance from Protection Point (or Protection Area) of System to beProtected (3)

The communication control device 40 may also select the calculationprocedure using both criteria 3 and 4. In this process, thecommunication control device 40 may select a procedure that generatesmore leftover margins.

The criteria for determining the group order are not limited to thecriteria 1 to 5 described above. The communication control device 40 mayalso determine the group order on the basis of other determinationcriteria.

After determining the group order, the calculation unit 443 of thecommunication control device 40 calculates the communication parameter(maximum allowable transmission power) in the group order (selectedprocedure) determined by the determination unit 444 (step S632 c).

In the third example, the communication control device 40 firstcalculates the group that is likely to generate more leftover margins.Consequently, the communication control device 40 can accurately givethe leftover margin to the other group. As a result, the communicationcontrol device 40 can achieve efficient utilization of radio waveresources.

7. MODIFICATIONS

The embodiment described above is merely an example, and various changesand applications may be made.

7-1. Master/Slave Model

As described above, the communication system 2 may include thecommunication control devices 40. In such a case, a control model formedby the communication control devices 40 may be a master/slave model(central control model) as illustrated in FIG. 6. In the master/slavemodel, each slave communication control device manages and controls thecommunication device locally, and the master communication controldevice controls the slave communication control devices collectively andglobally. In the example of FIG. 6, the communication control device 40₃ is the master communication control device, and the communicationcontrol devices 40 ₄ and 40 ₅ are the slave communication controldevices.

The slave communication control devices can be categorized as follows:

1. For specification scheme group

2. For flexible scheme group

In other words, the communication device employing the specificationscheme is managed and controlled by the slave communication controldevice for the above-mentioned specification scheme group. Thecommunication device employing the flexible scheme is managed andcontrolled by the slave communication control device for the flexiblescheme. In the present modification, the communication control device 40₄ is categorized for the specification scheme group, and thecommunication control device 40 ₅ is categorized for the flexible schemegroup.

For example, the following measures may be applied as a method formaking a suitable slave communication control device to manage thecommunication device 20.

1. Transfer from master communication control device

2. Specify in advance in a contract and the like relating to theconnection to the communication control device

In the former, the communication device 20 first accesses the mastercommunication control device. In this process, it is preferable that theinformation on the scheme to be used is notified. After confirming theaccess, the master communication control device extracts informationrequired for accessing the slave communication control device thatsupports the above-mentioned scheme information, and notifies thecommunication device 20 of the information.

For example, the information required for accessing the slavecommunication control device includes IP address, port number, uniformsource locator (URL), public key infrastructure (PKI), username,password, and the like.

In the latter, it is preferable that information required for accessingthe slave communication control device is recorded in the communicationdevice 20 in advance. When the software of the communication device 20supports both schemes, it is preferable to include a function to switchbetween the slave communication control devices to be connected,according to the intention of the user of the communication device 20(for example, the scheme to be used).

FIG. 24 is a sequence diagram illustrating an exchange between a mastercommunication control device and slave communication control devices. Inthe example of FIG. 24, the communication control device 40 ₃ is themaster communication control device, and the communication controldevices 40 ₄ and 40 ₅ are the slave communication control devices. Thecommunication control device 40 ₄ is categorized for the specificationscheme group, and the communication control device 40 ₅ is categorizedfor the flexible scheme group. The broken arrows in the drawing areoptional, and may not be included.

On the basis of the information required for accessing the slavecommunication control device, the communication device 20 performs aregistration procedure to the slave communication control device. Theregistration procedure may also be performed by the network manager thatmanages the communication devices 20.

After completing the registration procedure, the communication device 20performs the spectrum grant procedure. Upon receiving the spectrum grantrequest, the slave communication control device evaluates the spectrumgrant request using the technique according to the scheme, and notifiesthe communication device 20 of a grant response.

If the use is approved, the communication device 20 sends a spectrum usenotification. The slave communication control device determines whetherthe radio wave transmission is allowed, and notifies the communicationdevice 20 of the determination result. When the radio wave transmissionis allowed, the communication device 20 can start transmitting radiowaves.

In this example, to evaluate the spectrum grant request and/or todetermine whether radio wave transmission is allowed, protection of theprimary system needs to be taken into consideration. However, the slavecommunication control device only has information on the communicationdevice 20 using a specific scheme. Thus, the requesting unit 446 of theslave communication control device requests the master communicationcontrol device of a temporary interference margin (temporary allocationmargin) (step S71). The acquisition unit 441 of the slave communicationcontrol device then acquires the temporary allocation margin describedat step S62 in the communication control process, from the mastercommunication control device (step S72). At least the slavecommunication control device that manages the “flexible scheme group”acquires the temporary allocation margin I_(Flexible(dBm)). The slavecommunication control device that manages the “specification schemegroup” may not necessarily acquire the temporary allocation margin atthis timing.

First, the processing unit 447 of the master communication controldevice causes the communication control device 40 ₅ to calculate thecommunication parameter (maximum transmission power). The calculationunit 443 of the communication control device 40 ₅ calculates the maximumallowable transmission power of the target communication device amongthe managing communication devices 20, on the basis of the acquiredtemporary allocation margin I_(Flexible(dBm)) (step S73). Moreover, thecommunication control device 40 ₅ at least calculates the leftovermargin I_(Leftover,i(dBm)) and notifies the communication control device40 ₃ (master communication control device) of the calculation result(step S74). Needless to say, the communication control device 40 ₅ mayalso notify the communication control device 40 ₃ of the calculationresult of the maximum allowable transmission power. The notification isperformed by the notification unit 445 of the communication controldevice 40 ₅.

After acquiring the leftover margin I_(Leftover,i(dBm)) the notificationunit 445 of the communication control device 40 ₃ notifies the slavecommunication control device that manages the “specification schemegroup” of the interference margin (step S75). For example, theinterference margin amount notified at this point isI_(Fixed,modified(dBm)) indicated in Formula (11). When the temporaryallocation margin I_(Fixed(dBm)) is notified at the timing at step S72,only the modification (modified margin) is notified here.

The processing unit 447 of the master communication control devicecauses the communication control device 40 ₄ to calculate thecommunication parameter (maximum transmission power). The calculationunit 443 of the communication control device 40 ₄ calculates the maximumallowable transmission power of the target communication device, amongthe managing communication devices 20, on the basis of the modifiedinterference margin I_(Fixed,modified(dBm)) (step S76).

In the present modification also, the communication control device 40can achieve efficient utilization of radio wave resources, as themaximum allowable transmission power calculation process (first example)described above.

In the present modification, the master communication control devicecauses the slave communication control device categorized into theflexible scheme group to first calculate the communication parameter(maximum transmission power). However, the master communication controldevice may also cause the slave communication control device categorizedinto the specification scheme group to first calculate the communicationparameter (maximum transmission power). In this case also, thecommunication control device 40 can achieve efficient utilization ofradio wave resources, as the maximum allowable transmission powercalculation process (second example) described above.

Moreover, the master communication control device may also determine theslave communication control device that first calculates thecommunication parameter (maximum transmission power) on the basis ofpredetermined criteria. The predetermined criteria may be criteria 1 to4 indicated in the maximum allowable transmission power calculationprocess (third example). In such a case, the “group” is replaced withthe “slave communication control devices”, and the “group order” isreplaced with the “slave communication device order”. The mastercommunication control device then causes the slave communication devicesto calculate the communication parameter (maximum transmission power) inthe determined slave communication device order. In this case also, thecommunication control device 40 can achieve efficient utilization ofradio wave resources, as the maximum allowable transmission powercalculation process (third example) described above.

The similar architecture is also applicable to a state when the basestation function is provided in the terminal device 30 side. In such acase, it is possible to consider the base station as the mastercommunication control device, the terminal base station as the slavecommunication control device, and the terminal device 30 connected tothe terminal base station as the communication device.

7-2. Application of Embodiment

In the embodiment described above, the communication device 20 iscategorized into the specification scheme group and the flexible schemegroup. The communication device 20 may also be classified into a groupother than the specification scheme group and the flexible scheme group.The communication device 20 may further be classified into two or moregroups. Similarly, the categorization of the slave communication controldevice is not limited to the specification scheme group and the flexiblescheme group.

7-3. Modification of System Configuration

The communication control device 40 of the present embodiment is notlimited to the device described in the above embodiment. For example,the communication control device 40 may also be a device that has afunction other than controlling the communication device 20 thatsecondarily uses the frequency band where spectrum sharing is takingplace. For example, the function of the communication control device 40of the present embodiment may also be included in the network manager.In such a case, for example, the network manager may be a centralizedbase band unit (C-BBU) having a network configuration called acentralized radio access network (C-RAN), or a device providedtherewith. Moreover, the function of the network manager may be includedin the base station (including an access point). These devices (such asthe network manager) may also be considered as communication controldevices.

In the embodiment described above, the communication system 1 is thefirst radio system, and the communication device 20 is the second radiosystem. However, the first radio system and the second radio system arenot limited to the example. For example, the first radio system may alsobe a communication device (for example, the communication device 10),and the second radio system may also be a communication system(communication system 2). The radio system in the present embodiment isnot limited to the system configured of a plurality of devices, and maybe replaced with a “device”, a “terminal”, and the like as appropriate.

In the embodiment described above, the communication control device 40is a device belonging to the communication system 2. However, thecommunication control device 40 may not necessarily be a devicebelonging to the communication system 2. The communication controldevice 40 may also be an external device of the communication system 2.The communication control device 40 may not control the communicationdevice 20 directly, but may control the communication device 20indirectly via a device configuring the communication system 2.Moreover, there may be a plurality of the secondary systems(communication systems 2). In such a case, the communication controldevice 40 may manage the secondary systems. In this case, each of thesecondary systems may be considered as a second radio system.

In general, in the spectrum sharing, the existing system using thetarget band is referred to as a primary system, and the secondary useris referred to as a secondary system. However, the primary system andthe secondary system may also be replaced with other terms. A macro cellin the Heterogeneous Network (HetNet) may be referred to as a primarysystem, and a small cell and a relay station may be referred to as asecondary system.

Moreover, the base station may be referred to as a primary system, and aRelay UE and a Vehicle UE for implementing the D2D andvehicle-to-everything (V2X) that are within the coverage of the primarysystem may be referred to as a secondary system. The base station maynot necessarily be a fixed type, but may also be a portable type or amovable type.

The interface between the entities may be either wired or wireless. Forexample, the interface between the entities (communication controldevice, communication device, or terminal device) in the presentembodiment may also be a wireless interface that does not depend on thespectrum sharing. For example, the wireless interface that does notdepend on the spectrum sharing may be a wireless interface provided viaa licensed band by a mobile network operator, a wireless LANcommunication using the existing license-exempt band, and the like.

7-4. Other Modifications

The control device that controls the communication device 10, thecommunication device 20, the terminal device 30, or the communicationcontrol device 40 of the present embodiment may be implemented by adedicated computer system or a general computer system.

For example, a communication program for executing the operationdescribed above (for example, the communication control process, theadjustment process, the allocation process, or the like) is stored in acomputer readable recording medium such as an optical disk, asemiconductor memory, a magnetic tape, and a flexible disk to bedistributed. Then, for example, the control device is formed byinstalling the computer program in the computer, and executing theprocess described above. In such a case, the control device may also bean external device (for example, a personal computer) of thecommunication device 10, the communication device 20, the terminaldevice 30, or the communication control device 40. Moreover, the controldevice may also be a device (for example, the control unit 24, thecontrol unit 34, or the control unit 44) in the communication device 10,the communication device 20, the terminal device 30, or thecommunication control device 40.

It is also possible to store the communication program described abovein a disk drive in the server device on the network such as Internet,and download the communication program in a computer and the like. Thefunction described above may also be implemented by cooperation betweenthe operating system (OS) and application software. In this case, a partother than the OS may be stored in a medium to be distributed, or a partother than the OS may be stored in the server device, and download thepart to a computer or the like.

Of the processes described in the embodiment described above, all or apart of the processes that are described as being automaticallyperformed may be manually performed, or all or a part of the processesthat are described as being manually performed may be automaticallyperformed with a known method. In addition to the above, informationincluding the processing procedure, specific names, and various types ofdata and parameters indicated in the specification and drawingsdescribed above may be optionally changed unless otherwise specified.For example, various types of information indicated in the drawings arenot limited to the information illustrated in the drawings.

The components of the devices illustrated in the drawings arefunctionally conceptual, and may not necessarily be physicallyconfigured as illustrated. In other words, the specific modes ofdispersion and integration of each device is not limited to the onesillustrated in the drawings, and all or a part thereof can befunctionally or physically dispersed or integrated in an optional unit,depending on various loads and the status of use.

The embodiments described above may also be appropriately combined aslong as the processing contents do not contradict each other. Moreover,the order of the steps illustrated in the sequence diagram or flowchartof the present embodiment may be suitably changed.

8. CONCLUSION

As described above, according to one embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the communication control device 40 acquires the spectrumgrant request following a certain scheme from the communication devices20. The communication control device then groups the communicationdevices 20 into groups according to the scheme of the spectrum grantrequest, and calculates the communication parameter of the communicationdevice 20 for each group. Consequently, even when the communicationdevices 20 of different forms are present in a mixed manner, thecommunication control device 40 can optimally allocate radio waveresources according to the scheme of the spectrum grant request. As aresult, the efficient utilization of radio wave resources will bepossible.

While embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, it isto be understood that the technical scope of the present disclosure isnot limited to the embodiments described above, and variousmodifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit ofthe present disclosure. Moreover, the components in differentembodiments and modifications may also be combined as appropriate.

The effects in the embodiments described in the present specificationare merely examples and are not limited thereto. There may also be othereffects.

The present technology may also have the following configurations.

(1)

A communication control device, comprising:

an acquisition unit that acquires a spectrum grant request following acertain scheme from a plurality of second radio systems that perform awireless communication using a radio wave of a frequency band used by afirst radio system;

a classification unit that groups the second radio systems into aplurality of groups according to the scheme of the spectrum grantrequest; and

a calculation unit that calculates a communication parameter of thesecond radio system for each of the groups.

(2)

The communication control device according to (1), wherein thecalculation unit calculates the communication parameter of the secondradio system in a predetermined group order.

(3)

The communication control device according to (2), wherein

the acquisition unit acquires a spectrum grant request following one ofa plurality of schemes including, at least, a first scheme that includesinformation on maximum transmission power and frequency desired by thesecond radio system, and a second scheme that includes a requirementrelating to the communication parameter of the second radio system, and

the classification unit classifies the second radio systems into, atleast, a first group including the second radio system that uses thefirst scheme, and a second group including the second radio system thatuses the second scheme.

(4)

The communication control device according to (2), wherein thecalculation unit calculates the communication parameter of the secondradio system by allocating an interference margin to each of the groups,and based on the allocated interference margin, and when a leftovermargin is generated in a group calculated first, allocates the leftovermargin to a group to be calculated later.

(5)

The communication control device according to (3) or (4), wherein thecalculation unit calculates the communication parameter of the secondradio group in a sequence of the second group and the first group.

(6)

The communication control device according to (3) or (4), wherein thecalculation unit calculates the communication parameter of the secondradio system in a sequence of the first group and the second group.

(7)

The communication control device according to (3), wherein thecalculation unit calculates the communication parameter of the secondradio system classified into the first group, based on a calculationmethod of an interference margin iterative allocation type.

(8)

The communication control device according to (3), wherein thecalculation unit calculates the communication parameter of the secondradio system classified into the second group, based on a calculationmethod of an interference margin batch allocation type.

(9)

The communication control device according to (3), further comprising adetermination unit that determines the group order to calculate thecommunication parameter, wherein

the calculation unit calculates the communication parameter in the grouporder determined by the determination unit.

(10)

The communication control device according to (9), wherein thedetermination unit determines the group order based on number of thesecond radio systems in the group.

(11)

The communication control device according to (9), wherein thedetermination unit determines the group order based on installationdensity of the second radio systems in the group.

(12)

The communication control device according to (9), wherein thedetermination unit determines the group order based on number of thesecond radio systems in the group, and a distance from a protectionpoint or a protection area of the first radio system.

(13)

The communication control device according to (12), wherein when, amongthe second radio systems classified into the second group, the number ofthe second radio systems located at the distance from the protectionpoint or the protection area of the first radio system, the distancebeing larger than a predetermined distance, is larger than apredetermined threshold, the determination unit determines the grouporder in a sequence of the second group and the first group.

(14)

The communication control device according to (12), wherein when, amongthe second radio systems classified into the first group, the number ofthe second radio systems located at the distance from the protectionpoint or the protection area of the first radio system, the distancebeing smaller than a predetermined distance, is larger than apredetermined threshold, the determination unit determines the grouporder in a sequence of the first group and the second group.

(15)

A method of controlling communication, the method comprising:

acquiring a spectrum grant request following a certain scheme from aplurality of second radio systems that perform a wireless communicationusing a radio wave of a frequency band used by a first radio system;

grouping the second radio systems into a plurality of groups accordingto the scheme of the spectrum grant request; and

calculating a communication parameter of the second radio system foreach of the groups.

(16)

A communication control program that causes a computer provided in acommunication control device to function as

-   -   an acquisition unit that acquires a spectrum grant request        following a certain scheme from a plurality of second radio        systems that perform a wireless communication using a radio wave        of a frequency band used by a first radio system;    -   a classification unit that groups the second radio systems into        a plurality of groups according to the scheme of the spectrum        grant request; and    -   a calculation unit that calculates a communication parameter of        the second radio system for each of the groups.        (17)

A communication system, comprising:

a master communication control device; and

a first slave communication control device and a second slavecommunication control device following the master communication controldevice, wherein

the first slave communication control device includes

-   -   a first acquisition unit that acquires a spectrum grant request        following a first scheme from a second radio system that        performs a wireless communication using a radio wave of a        frequency band used by a first radio system, and    -   a first calculation unit that calculates a communication        parameter of the second radio system under the first slave        communication control device based on an interference margin        notified from the master communication control device,

the second slave communication control device includes

-   -   a second acquisition unit that acquires a spectrum grant request        following a second scheme from a second radio system that        performs a wireless communication using a radio wave of a        frequency band used by a first radio system, and    -   a second calculation unit that calculates a communication        parameter of the second radio system under the second slave        communication control device based on an interference margin        notified from the master communication control device, and

the master communication control device includes a processing unit thatcauses the slave communication control devices to calculate thecommunication parameters of the respective second radio systems underthe slave communication control devices, in a predetermined slavecommunication control device order.

(18)

The communication system according to (17), wherein

the first scheme is a scheme that includes information on a maximumtransmission power and frequency desired by the second radio system inthe spectrum grant request, and

the second scheme is a scheme that includes a requirement relating tothe communication parameter of the second radio system in the spectrumgrant request.

(19)

The communication system according to (18), wherein

the processing unit of the master communication control device causesthe second slave communication control device and the first slavecommunication control device to calculate the communication parametersof the respective second radio systems in this order,

the second slave communication control device includes a notificationunit that, when an interference margin allocated by the mastercommunication control device is left over, notifies the mastercommunication control device of the interference margin as a leftovermargin, and

the processing unit of the master communication control device allocatesthe leftover margin to the first slave communication control device whenthe leftover margin is notified from the second slave communicationcontrol device.

(20)

The communication system according to (18), wherein

the processing unit of the master communication control device causesthe first slave communication control device and the second slavecommunication control device to calculate the communication parametersof the respective second radio systems in this order,

the first slave communication control device includes a notificationunit that when an interference margin allocated by the mastercommunication control device is left over, notifies the mastercommunication control device of the interference margin as a leftovermargin; and

the processing unit of the master communication control device allocatesthe leftover margin to the second slave communication control device,when the leftover margin is notified from the first slave communicationcontrol device.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   -   1, 2 communication system    -   10, 20 communication device    -   30 terminal device    -   40 communication control device    -   50 network manager    -   21, 31, 41 wireless communication unit    -   22, 32, 42 storage unit    -   23, 43 network communication unit    -   24, 34, 44 control unit    -   211, 311 reception processing unit    -   212, 312 transmission processing unit    -   441 acquisition unit    -   442 classification unit    -   443 calculation unit    -   444 determination unit    -   445 notification unit    -   446 requesting unit    -   447 processing unit

1. A communication control device, comprising: an acquisition unit thatacquires a spectrum grant request following a certain scheme from aplurality of second radio systems that perform a wireless communicationusing a radio wave of a frequency band used by a first radio system; aclassification unit that groups the second radio systems into aplurality of groups according to the scheme of the spectrum grantrequest; and a calculation unit that calculates a communicationparameter of the second radio system for each of the groups.
 2. Thecommunication control device according to claim 1, wherein thecalculation unit calculates the communication parameter of the secondradio system in a predetermined group order.
 3. The communicationcontrol device according to claim 2, wherein the acquisition unitacquires a spectrum grant request following one of a plurality ofschemes including, at least, a first scheme that includes information onmaximum transmission power and frequency desired by the second radiosystem, and a second scheme that includes a requirement relating to thecommunication parameter of the second radio system, and theclassification unit classifies the second radio systems into, at least,a first group including the second radio system that uses the firstscheme, and a second group including the second radio system that usesthe second scheme.
 4. The communication control device according toclaim 2, wherein the calculation unit calculates the communicationparameter of the second radio system by allocating an interferencemargin to each of the groups, and based on the allocated interferencemargin, and when a leftover margin is generated in a group calculatedfirst, allocates the leftover margin to a group to be calculated later.5. The communication control device according to claim 3, wherein thecalculation unit calculates the communication parameter of the secondradio group in a sequence of the second group and the first group. 6.The communication control device according to claim 3, wherein thecalculation unit calculates the communication parameter of the secondradio system in a sequence of the first group and the second group. 7.The communication control device according to claim 3, wherein thecalculation unit calculates the communication parameter of the secondradio system classified into the first group, based on a calculationmethod of an interference margin iterative allocation type.
 8. Thecommunication control device according to claim 3, wherein thecalculation unit calculates the communication parameter of the secondradio system classified into the second group, based on a calculationmethod of an interference margin batch allocation type.
 9. Thecommunication control device according to claim 3, further comprising adetermination unit that determines the group order to calculate thecommunication parameter, wherein the calculation unit calculates thecommunication parameter in the group order determined by thedetermination unit.
 10. The communication control device according toclaim 9, wherein the determination unit determines the group order basedon number of the second radio systems in the group.
 11. Thecommunication control device according to claim 9, wherein thedetermination unit determines the group order based on installationdensity of the second radio systems in the group.
 12. The communicationcontrol device according to claim 9, wherein the determination unitdetermines the group order based on number of the second radio systemsin the group, and a distance from a protection point or a protectionarea of the first radio system.
 13. The communication control deviceaccording to claim 12, wherein when, among the second radio systemsclassified into the second group, the number of the second radio systemslocated at the distance from the protection point or the protection areaof the first radio system, the distance being larger than apredetermined distance, is larger than a predetermined threshold, thedetermination unit determines the group order in a sequence of thesecond group and the first group.
 14. The communication control deviceaccording to claim 12, wherein when, among the second radio systemsclassified into the first group, the number of the second radio systemslocated at the distance from the protection point or the protection areaof the first radio system, the distance being smaller than apredetermined distance, is larger than a predetermined threshold, thedetermination unit determines the group order in a sequence of the firstgroup and the second group.
 15. A method of controlling communication,the method comprising: acquiring a spectrum grant request following acertain scheme from a plurality of second radio systems that perform awireless communication using a radio wave of a frequency band used by afirst radio system; grouping the second radio systems into a pluralityof groups according to the scheme of the spectrum grant request; andcalculating a communication parameter of the second radio system foreach of the groups.
 16. A communication system, comprising: a mastercommunication control device; and a first slave communication controldevice and a second slave communication control device following themaster communication control device, wherein the first slavecommunication control device includes a first acquisition unit thatacquires a spectrum grant request following a first scheme from a secondradio system that performs a wireless communication using a radio waveof a frequency band used by a first radio system, and a firstcalculation unit that calculates a communication parameter of the secondradio system under the first slave communication control device based onan interference margin notified from the master communication controldevice, the second slave communication control device includes a secondacquisition unit that acquires a spectrum grant request following asecond scheme from a second radio system that performs a wirelesscommunication using a radio wave of a frequency band used by a firstradio system, and a second calculation unit that calculates acommunication parameter of the second radio system under the secondslave communication control device based on an interference marginnotified from the master communication control device, and the mastercommunication control device includes a processing unit that causes theslave communication control devices to calculate the communicationparameters of the respective second radio systems under the slavecommunication control devices, in a predetermined slave communicationcontrol device order.
 17. The communication system according to claim16, wherein the first scheme is a scheme that includes information on amaximum transmission power and frequency desired by the second radiosystem in the spectrum grant request, and the second scheme is a schemethat includes a requirement relating to the communication parameter ofthe second radio system in the spectrum grant request.
 18. Thecommunication system according to claim 17, wherein the processing unitof the master communication control device causes the second slavecommunication control device and the first slave communication controldevice to calculate the communication parameters of the respectivesecond radio systems in this order, the second slave communicationcontrol device includes a notification unit that, when an interferencemargin allocated by the master communication control device is leftover, notifies the master communication control device of theinterference margin as a leftover margin, and the processing unit of themaster communication control device allocates the leftover margin to thefirst slave communication control device when the leftover margin isnotified from the second slave communication control device.